2-NRLF 


*B  ma 


PRESBYTERIAN 

MANUAL 


THE 

PRESBYTERIAN  MANUAL: 

CONTAINING* 

FORMS  FOR  THE  RECORDS 

OF    THE 

SESSION,  PRESBYTERY,  AND  SYNOD; 

AND  FOR 

THE  JUDICIAL  AND  OTHER  ECcfelASTICAL  PROCEEDINGS 
REQUIRED  BY  THE  POLITY 


BY 


REV.  JOHK  N.  LEWIS, 

tATELY  STATED  CL£RK  OF  THE  SYNOD  OF  NEW  YORK  ANB  NEW 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION, 
mi  CHESTNUT  STREET. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  In  the  year  1SCO,  by 
WM.  L.  IIILDEBURN,  TREASURER, 

in  trust  for  l/ie 
PRESBYTERIAN  Pl^LTCATION  COMMITTEE, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


BXfilltOTtPFD  BY  L.  JOHNSON  &  C 
PHILADELPHIA, 


CONTENTS. 


Records  of  a  Session. 5 

Informal  Meeting  of  Session 9 

Election  of  Additional  Elders 10 

Death  of  a  Ruling  Elder 13 

Death  of  a  Pastor 14 

Temporary  Supply  of  a  Vacant  Pulpit 15 

Election  of  a  Pastor 18 

Certificate  of  Dismission  of  a  Church-Member 19 

Letter  of  Credence  for  a  Church-Member 21 

Dedication  of  a  House  of  Worship 22 

Minutes  of  Presbytery 24 

Adjourned  Meeting  of  Presbytery 46 

Special  Meeting  of  Presbytery 51 

Organizition  of  a  Church 59 

Discipline — Common  Fame 66 

An  Individual  Accuser 83 

Investigation  by  Request  of  the  Ac- 
cused  , 90 

i 


11  CONTENTS. 

PAOB 
Discipline — Contumacy 97 

Citations..... 101 

Appellate  Jurisdiction 104 

Dissents  and  Protests 109 

Records  of  a  Synod 115 

Standing  Rules 138 

Docket  of  Business....  ....  141 


THE  Manual  which  is  herewith  presented  to 
the  Church  is  believed  to  be  the  only  book  of 
its  class. 

The  labor  of  preparing  it  was  undertaken 
by  the  Rev.  John  N.  Lewis,  at  the  request  of 
a  Committee  of  the  General  Assembly. 

The  original  design  was  to  append  the 
"forms"  to  the  new  Digest  of  the  Acts  and 
Decisions  of  the  Assembly,  which  the  com- 
mittee had  been  appointed  to  arrange.  When, 
however,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  Digest 
must  be  made  so  much  more  voluminous  than 
was  at  first  intended,  Mr.  Lewis  was  requested 
to  enlarge  the  plan  of  the  Manual,  and  to 
prepare  it  for  publication  as  a  separate  and 
independent  work. 

The  labor  expended  upon  this  volume  has 
been  by  no  means  inconsiderable ;  but  it  is 
believed  that  the  attention  thus  bestowed  by 
one  so  eminently  qualified  by  experience  and 


4:  PREFACE. 

information  for  the  task,  has  been  well  spent. 
The  Manual  will  meet  the  wants  of  a  multitude 
of  Presbyterian  ministers  and  elders,  and  prove 
to  them  a  great  saving  of  time  and  trouble. 
To  know  how  to  do  a  thing  rightly  at  first  is  a 
privilege  which  will  be  appreciated  by  those 
whose  lot  it  has  been  to  halt  for  lack  of  this 
information  with  regard  to  the  details  of 
ministerial  and  official  duties.  In  other  de- 
partments books  of  forms  have  long  been  used, 
and  are  considered  indispensable ;  but  for 
ecclesiastical  proceedings  no  "  Clerk's  Assist- 
ant" has  been  put  forth.  "TiiE  PRESBYTE- 
RIAN MANUAL"  will  doubtless  prove  acceptable 
and  helpful  to  office-bearers  in  all  branches  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 

J.  W.  D. 


THE  PRESBYTERIAN  MANUAL. 


f0r  tfoe  Retorts  jof  a 

E ,  January  1,  18—. 

PURSUANT  to  the  call  of  the  Moderator,  the 
Session  met  in  the  church,  after  the  Prepara- 
tory Lecture,  and  was  opened  with  prayer. 
Present, — the  Rev.  A  B.,  Moderator, 
Mr.  C  D., 
"      E.  R, 
«      G  II., 
«      I.  K.-  l-:ide<«. 
-Absent,— Dr.  L.  J.  and  Mr.  M.  'X. 
Tiio  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read 
and  approved. 

M.r.  II.  gave  his  reason  for  being  absent,  from 
the  last  meeting  of  the  Session;  which  wus  sus- 
tained. 

L.  M.,  and  C.  his  wife,  and  N.  O.,  appeared 

before  the  Session  as  candidates  for  admission 

to  the  full  communion  of  the  Church,  and  O. 

E.;  and  S.,  the  wife  of  T.  E.,  (both  unbaptized,) 

1*  5 


6  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

as  candidates  for  admission  to  the  privileges 
of  church-membership.* 

They  were  severally  examined  respecting 
their  experimental  acquaintance  with  the  Chris- 
tian religion,  their  approval  of  the  doctrinal 
standards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  their 
readiness  to  submit  themselves  to  the  disci- 
pline of  Christ's  house;  and,  their  examina- 
tion having  been  sustained,  it  was 

*  The  different  forms  of  expression  in  this  minute  are  in- 
tended to  mark  the  important — albeit  too  much  neglected — 
distinction  between  the  children  of  the  Church  and  the  people 
of  the  world, — though  the  latter  may.  be  regular  attendants 
upon  public  worship,  and  connected  with  the  religious  society 
as  known  to  the  civil  law. 

The  former,  having  been  born  within  the  pale  of  the  visible 
kingdom  of  Christ,  are  to  be  recognised  as  the  infant  members 
of  his  Church.  As  such,  they  have  a  right  to  receive  "the  seal 
of  the  covenant/'  and  to  enjoy  all  the  privileges  appropriate  to 
this  infant  relation,  including  the  special  oversight,  instructions, 
and  prayers,  as  well  as  the  affectionate  interest  of  the  pastor, 
the  elders,  and  the  whole  body  of  Christ;  and  when  they  arrive 
at  Christian  maturity,  indicated  not  so  much  by  the  amount  as 
by  the  satisfactory  evidence  of  the  reality  of  their  Christian  ex- 
perience, they  are  to  be  received  into  the  full  communion  of  the 
Church. 

The  latter,  having  no  birthright  privileges  in  the  Church  of 
Christ,  may  be  considered  as  "proselytes  of  the  gate;"  who, 
•jn  exhibiting  credible  evidence  of  "repentance  toward  God 
and  faith  toward  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,"  may  be  admitted,  as 
"proselytes  of  righteousness,"  to  the  privileges  of  church-mem- 
bership, inclu-iixig  tLo  sacraments  and  th-a  brotUeriiGoJ  of  tho 
people  of  tik>& 


RECORDS    OF   A    SESSION.  7 

Resolved,  That  the  candidates  be,  and  they  hereby 
aie,  received  to  full  communion,  and  that  next  Sab- 
bath they  make  a  public  profession  of  their  faith. 

J.  B.  presented  his  certificate  of  dismission 
and  recommendation  from  the  Presbyterian 

church  in  II ,  N.Y.,  and  requested  that  he 

might  be  admitted  to  the  membership  of  this 
church. 

The  certificate  was  found  to  be  in  order,  and 
the  request  of  Mr.  B.  was  granted. 

D.  Y.  presented   a   similar   request,   accom- 
panied by  a  certificate  from  the  Congregational 
church  in  C ,  Conn. 

His  certificate  having  been  found  to  be  in 
order,  his  request  was  granted. 

E.  C.  requested   a   certificate   of  dismission 
from  this  church,  and  of  recommendation  to 

the  Presbyterian   church  in  N ,  Pa.     His 

request  was  granted. 

Mr.  D.  reported  that  he  had  attended  the 
stated  autumnal  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  at 
M.,  and  also  the  adjourned  meeting  at  D.,  and 
the  special  meeting  at  G. 

Mr.  II.  reported  that  he  had  attended  the 
annual  sessions  of  the  Synod  at  P ,  K.Y. 

Mr.  F.  was  appointed  to  represent  this  Ses- 
sion at  the  stated  spring  meeting  of  the  Pres- 
byter}^ and  Dr.  J.  was  appointed  his  alternate. 

The  folio  wing  minute  was  adopted;  namely:— 


8  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

The  Session  being  informed  that  Mr.  O.  New- 
ton had  been  commissioned  by  the  Board  of  Pub- 
lication as  a  colporteur  for  the  Presbytery;  on 
the  nomination  of  the  Presbyterial  Publication 
Committee,  it  was 

#  Resolved,  That  the  pastor  be  requested  to  give 
notice  of  the  fact  on  the  next  Lord's  morning, 
and  to  urge  upon  all  our  families  a  hearty  co- 
operation with  the  colporteur  in  his  labors  within 
the  bounds  of  the  congregation. 

Messrs.  D.  and  N.  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  examine  the  condition  of  the  Sabbath-school 
connected  with  this  congregation ;  and  to  report, 
at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Session,  what  mea- 
sures, if  any,  can  be  adopted  to  promote  the 
efficiency  of  that  important  institution. 

The  Moderator  and  Messrs.  K.  and  F.  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  rearrange  our  scheme  of 
collections  in  aid  of  the  several  Boards  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  with  a  view  to  secure  the 
more  general  and  more  liberal  co-operation  of 
the  members  of  the  congregation. 

The  Session  then  adjourned. 

Concluded  with  prayer. 

A.  B.,  Moderator,  [or  E.  F.,  ClerL] 


INFORMAL    MEETINGS   OF  THE  SESSION.          9 

Informal  fleeting*  uf  the  jStssum. 

[The  exigencies  of  business,  as  well  as  the  circumstances  of 
the  several  ddcrs,  often  make  it  convenient  for  the  pastor  to 
call  a  meeting  of  the  Session  at  the  close  of  some  religious 
service,  when  time  is  not  afforded  for  holding  a  formal  meeting 
and  the  nature  of  the  business  to  be  transacted  does  not  render 
it  essential.  In  such  cases,  the  matter  may  bo  acted  upon 
without  delay,  and  the  record  may  be  appropriately  entered 
upon  the  minutes  of  the  next  regular  meeting,  in  the  following 
form :— ] 

It  appeared  that,  at  certain  informal  meet- 
ings of  the  Session,  holden  since  the  last  regu- 
lar meeting,  D.  K.,  and  P.  his  wile,  were  dis- 
missed, and  recommended  to  the  Presbyterian 

church  in  W ,  N.J.: — Mr.  D.  was  appointed 

to  represent  this  Session  in  the  stated  autumnal 
meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  and  Mr.  F.  was  ap- 
pointed his  alternate: — and  Mr.  II.  was  ap- 
pointed the  delegate  to  attend  the  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  Synod,  and  Dr.  J.  was  appointed  his 
alternate. 

Whereupon,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  the  above  proceedings  of  the 
informal  meetings  be  approved  and  entered 
upon  the  minutes. 

[The  appropriate  place  for  this  minute  is  immediately  after 
the  record  of  the  excuses  of  absentees;  or,  if  there  is  no  such 
record,  it  should  follow  that  of  the  reading  and  approval  of  the 
minutes. 


10  THE    PRESBYTERIAN   MANUAL. 

The  order  of  time  should  always  be  preserved  in  such  a 
minute;  and  the  several  items  of  business  should  be  care- 
fully separated  from  each  other,  as  above,  by  a  colon  and 
dash. 

If  a  single  informal  meeting  only  has  been  holden,  the  minute 
should  be  commenced, — ] 

It  appeared  that,  at  an  informal  meeting 
holden,  &e. 

[If  only  one  item  of  business  has  been  attended  to  in  this 
manner,  the  resolution  should  be  expressed, — ] 

Eesolvedj  That  the  above  action  of  the  in- 
formal meeting  be  approved  and  entered  upon 
the  minutes. 


dlwtbra  0 


[A  matter  of  so  great  concern  as  the  election  of  additional 
elders  will  naturally  be  made  the  subject  of  conversation  in 
the  Session,  and  probably  at  several  meetings,  before  it  will  be 
advisable  to  take  notice  of  it  in  the  minutes.  When,  however, 
the  opinions  of  the  several  members  begin  to  assume  a  more 
definite  form  and  to  approach  a  harmonious  result,  it  will  be 
proper  to  introduce  the  subject  in  a  formal  manner,  which  may 
be  done  by  the  following  minute:  —  ] 

The  subject  of  an  increase  of  the  eldership 
in  this  church,  having  been  discussed  informally 
at  several  recent  meetings  of  the  Session,  was 
again  taken  up  for  consideration,  and 


ELECTION   OF   ADDITIONAL   ELDERS.  11 

The  remainder  of  the  meeting  was  spent  in 
consultation  upon  this  important  subject : 

Pending  which, 

The  Session  adjourned,  to  meet  on  [Monday] 
next,  at,  &c. 

[At  the  adjourned  meeting,  after  recording  the  preliminary 
business,  the  minutes  may  proceed,  as  follows : — ] 

The  unfinished  business  of  the  last  meeting — 
namely,  the  subject  of  an  increase  of  the 
eldership  in  this  church — was  then  taken  up 
for  consideration. 

After  a  full  and  free  interchange  of  opinion, 
it  was 

Resolved,  As  the  unanimous  judgment  of  the 
Session,  that  the  welfare  of  this  church,  and 
the  interests  of  religion  within  our  bounds, 
render  it  expedient  that  the  number  of  the 
eldership  should  be  increased,  without  unne- 
cessary delay. 

Resolved,  That  the  Session  will,  and  hereby 
does,  recommend  to  the  church  the  election  of 
additional  ruling  elders. 

Resolved,  further,  as  the  deliberate,  cordial, 
and  unanimous  judgment  of  the  Session,  That 
the  following  named  persons — all  being  "male 
members  in  full  communion  in  this  church" — 
be,  and  the  same  hereby  are,  nominated  to  the 
church  as  candidates  for  election  to  the  office 
of  ruling  elder,  namely : — 


12  THE  PRESBYTERIAN   MANUAL. 

Messrs.  K.  B.,  T.  L.  C.,  and  P.  S. 

Messrs.  K.  and  D.  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  wait  upon  the  candidates  above 
named,  and  to  inform  them  of  the  purpose  of 
the  Session  to  nominate  them  to  the  church 
for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  and  also  to  obtain, 
if  possible,  their  acceptance  of  the  nomination. 

[At  a  subsequent  meeting,  the  committee  being  prepared  to 
report,  the  following  record  should  be  made  : — •] 

The  committee  appointed  to  wait  upon  the 
candidates  for  nomination  to  the  eldership  re- 
ported, that  it  has  performed  the  duty  which 
was  assigned  to  it  by  the  Session,  and  that  the 
candidates  have  all  signified  their  acceptance 
of  the  nomination. 

The  report  was  accepted;  and, 

In  view  thereof,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  the  nomination  of  the  said 
candidates  be  presented  to  the  church  on  the 
next  Sabbath,  and  that  it  be  repeated  on  the 
Sabbath  following. 

Resolved,  That  the  election  for  ruling  elders 
be  holden  in  the  lecture-room,  at  the  close  of 
the  first  weekly  lecture  after  the  nomination 
shall  have  been  published  the  second  time; 
and  that  notice  to  that  effect  be  given  from 
the  pulpit  at  each  time  of  publishing  the  nomi- 
nation. 

Resolved,  That  the  candidates,  if  they  shall 


DEATH  OF  A  RULING  ELDER.        13 

be  elected  by  the  church,  be  ordained  to  the 

office  of  ruling  elder  on  the  Sabbath  in 

next,  [or  inst.] 

[The  candidates  having  been  elected  and  ordained,  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Session  should  be  holden,  on  the  earliest  convenient 
day,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  and  enrolling  the  new  elders. 

After  the  reading  of  the  minutes,  and  the  excuses  of  absentees, 
the  record  should  proceed  as  follows : — ] 

It  appeared  that  the  brethren  nominated  by 
the  Session  as  candidates  for  the  office  of 
ruling  elder,  having  been  duly  and  unani- 
mously elected  by  the  church, 

Were  solemnly  ordained  to  that  office  on  the 
Sabbath,  the day  of inst. 

The  new  elders,  being  present  to-day,  were 
cordially  welcomed  to  their  seats  as  members 
of  this  Session ;  and 

Their  names  are  now  enrolled,  as  follows, 
namely : — 

Mr.  E.  B., 
«    T.  L.  C., 
"     P.  S— Elders. 


rtsgtttinjj  %  gtaty  flf  a  $nlinjj  (JHter* 

[The  following  minute  is  recommended  as  being  sufficiently 
full,  unless  in  very  extraordinary  cases,  and  as  avoiding  the 
liability  to  invidious  distinctions,  against  which  great  care 
should  always  be  taken  to  guard  the  records  of  deliberative, 
and  especially  of  ecclesiastical  bodies.] 
2 


14  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

Our  esteemed  brother,  Mr.  P.  D.,  having 
been  removed  by  death  since  the  last  regular 
meeting  of  the  Session, 

The  following  minute  is  unanimously  adopted, 
namely : — 

With  humble  submission  to  the  dispensation 
of  God's  holy  providence,  the  Session  records 
the  death  of  one  of  its  members, — Mr.  P.  D., 

— who  departed  this  life  on  [Friday]  the 

day  of inst.,  [or  ult.,]  in  the year  of 

his  age. 

Itate  rtsptrfhig  %  gta'tj!  0f  a  f)ast0r. 

[The  sentiment  of  the  note  prefixed  to  the  minute  re- 
specting  the  death  of  a  ruling  elder  has  influenced  the  prepa- 
ration of  that  now  given.  In  all  such  cases,  a  true  taste  will 
indicate  simplicity  rather  than  panegyric-] 

The  Eev.  C.  D.,  the  pastor  of  this  congrega- 
tion, having  been  removed  by  death  since  the 
last  regular  meeting  of  the  Session, 

The  following  minute  is  unanimously  adopted, 
namely: — 

With  humble  submission  to  the  dispensation 
of  God's  holy  providence,  the  Session  records 
the  death  of  the  Eev.  C.  D.,  the  beloved  and 
lamented  pastor  of  this  congregation,  who 

departed  this  life  on  [Monday]  the day  of 

inst.,  [or  ult.,]  in  the  year  of  his 


SUPPLY   OF   A   VACANT   PULPIT.  15 

age  and  the of  his  ministry;  having  been 

the  faithful  pastor  of  this  congregation  for  the 
space  of  —  years. 


Ipuites  respecting  the  £ empantjj  Suplfi  jof  a 
ihcaut  pulpit. 

[When  the  vacancy  has  been  occasioned  by  the  death  of  the 
pastor,  tho  following  minute  should  succeed  the  one  in  which 
the  formal  record  of  the  death  is  made : — ] 

The  following  minute  also  was  adopted : — 

The  pulpit  of  this  church  having  been  now 
made  vacant  by  the  decease  of  our  pastor,  it 
lias  become  the  duty  of  the  Session  to  provide 
for  the  regular  maintenance  of  the  ordinances 
of  public  worship,  until  God,  in  his  great  mercy, 
shall  send  to  us  another  pastor,  in  whom  the 
hearts  of  our  bereaved  congregation  may  be 
united. 

Be  it,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  Messrs.  D.  and  II.  be  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  procure  supplies  for 
the  pulpit,  that  the  people  may  not  be  deprived 
of  the  means  of  grace  in  their  accustomed 
place  of  public  worship. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be 
directed  to  present  a  respectful  request  to  the 


16  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

Presbytery  for  the  appointment  of  occasional 
supplies,  from  its  own  members,  for  our  pulpit; 
provided,  that  at  the  time  of  the  next  meeting 
of  the  Presbytery  there  shall  appear  to  be  no 
immediate  prospect  of  our  obtaining  a  pastor. 

Resolved,  if  the  Board  of  Trustees  shall 
concur,  That  the  treasurer  of  the  congregation 
be  authorized  and  directed  to  pay  to  the 
ministers  who  may  occupy  the  pulpit  during 
the  time  of  its  continuing  vacant,  the  sum  of 
ten  dollars  for  each  Sabbath's  services,  and  of 
five  dollars  for  each  Preparatory  Lecture,  to- 
gether with  a  suitable  allowance  for  their 
travelling  expenses. 

[If  the  vacancy  shall  have  been  occasioned  by  the  resigna- 
tion of  the  pastor,  the  fact  of  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral 
relation,  and  of  the  consequent  vacancy,  may  most  appro- 
priately be  brought  upon  the  records  of  the  Session  in  the  report 
of  the  elder  who  represented  the  church  in  the  Presbytery  at 
the  time  of  its  action  in  the  premises.  The  record  should  be : — ] 

Mr.  D.  reported  that  he  had  attended  the 
special  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  holden  at 
D.,  which  was  called  for  the  purpose  of  dis- 
missing our  esteemed  pastor, — the  Eev.  C.  D., 
— who  has  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  resign  his 
pastoral  relation  to  this  congregation,  &c. 

[This  minute  may  be  completed,  according  to  the  facts,  by 
adding — On  account  of  protracted  and  serious  indisposition ; 
— or,  in  order  that  he  may  enter  upon  another  sphere  of  service, 


SUPPLY   OF   A   PULPIT.  17 

Ac. ; — or,  in  order  that  he  may  become  the  pastor  of  the  church 
in .     Then  let  the  record  proceed : — ] 

Whereupon  the  following  minute  was 
adopted,  namely: — 

The  pulpit  of  this  church  having  been  made 
vacant  by  the  dismission  of  our  pastor,  it  has 
become  the  duty  of  the  Session  to  provide  for 
the  regular  maintenance  of  the  ordinances  of 
public  worship,  until  God,  in  his  great  mercy, 
shall  send  to  us  another  pastor,  in  whom 
the  people  of  this  congregation  may  become 
united. 

[The  same  resolutions  should  then  follow  as  in  the  preceding 
formula.] 

[At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Session  holden  after  the  resigna- 
tion or  death  of  the  pastor,  it  should,  without  fail,  elect  a 
Stated  Clerk,  unless  it  already  has  euch  an  officer.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  suitable  record  to  be  made  of  his  election ;  and  it 
should  immediately  succeed  the  resolutions  respecting  the 
supply  of  the  pulpit : — ] 

Mr.  E.  F.  wras  then  elected  to  the  office  of 
Slated  Clerk  of  this  Session. 
After  which, 
The  Session  adjourned. 
Concluded  with  prayer. 

E.  F.,  Stated  Clerk. 
2* 


18  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 


rtsjctting  %  €Mm  of  a  Castor. 

[It  is  provided  in  the  "Form  of  Government,"  chap.  kv. 
sec.  i.,  that  when  "the  people  appear  prepared  to  elect  a  pastor, 
the  Session  shall  take  measures  to  convene  them  for  the  pur- 
pose." In  pursuance  of  this  direction,  the  following  record 
should  be  made : — ] 

The  following  minute  was  adopted  :— 

The  Session,  having  reason  to  believe  that 
the  people  of  this  congregation  are  prepared 
with  a  good  degree  of  unanimity  to  elect 
a  pastor,  adopted  the  following  resolutions, 
namely : — 

Resolved,  That  a  meeting  of  the  congrega- 
tion, for  the  election  of  a  pastor,  be  holden  in 

the  church  on  Wednesday,  the inst.;  and 

that  the  notice  of  this  meeting  be  given  from 
the  pulpit  on  the  next  Sabbath,  in  accordance 
with  the  "Form  of  Government,"  chap.  xv. 
sec.  iii. 

Resolved,  That  the  Stated  Clerk  be  directed 
to  invite  the  Rev.  R.  A.  to  attend  the  meeting 
of  the  congregation,  and  to  preside  in  the  pro- 
posed election  of  a  pastor. 

[When  a  pastor  shall  have  been  elected  by  the  congregation, 
and  the  candidate  shall  have  intimated  his  willingness  to  accept 
the  "call,"  if  a  regular  or  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Pres- 
bytery is  near  at  hand,  no  further  action  by  the  Session  will  be 
necessity,  as  "commissioners  to  prosecute  the  call"  before  tha 


CERTIFICATE   OF   DISMISSION.  19 

Presbytery  ought  always  to  be  appointed  by  the  congregation. 
But  if  it  shall  appear  to  be  desirable  that  a  special  meeting  of 
the  Presbytery  should  be  holden  to  install  the  pastor,  the  Ses- 
sion should  take  order,  as  embodied  in  the  following  minute, 
•which  may  be  passed  at  an  "informal  meeting/'  and  entered 
upon  the  records  as  directed  in  the  formula  under  that  head  : — ] 

Messrs.  F.  and  II.  were  appointed  a  commit- 
tee to  take  the  necessary  measures  for  con- 
vening a  special  meeting  of  the  Presbytery 
for  the  installation  of  our  pastor  elect;  and 
also  to  make  arrangements  for  the  entertain- 
ment of  the  members  of  Presbytery  when  they 
shall  be  assembled  here. 

[At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Session  holden  after  the  installa- 
tion of  the  pastor,  the  elder  who  represented  the  church  in  the 
Presbytery  should  make  his  report,  which  maybe  entered  upon 
the  record  thus: — ] 

Mr.  D.  reported  that  he  had  attended  the 
adjourned  [or  special]  meeting  of  the  Presuy- 
UTV.  which  was  holden  in  this  place  on  Wed- 
nesday, the  day  of inst.,  [or  ult.,] 

for  the  purpose  of  installing  the  Rev.  A.  B.  as 
the  pastor  of  this  congregation. 


Jl  Certificate  jof  giswis?i0m 

E ,  January  1,  186—. 

This  is  to  certify  that  R.  C.  is   a   member 
in  good  standing  of  the   First   Presbyterian 


20  THE    PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

Churcli   of    A ,   and    that    he    is    hereby 

dismissed  at  his  own  request,  and  affection- 
ately recommended  to  the  fellowship  of  -the 

Presbyterian    church    in   N ,    Pa.,    or   oi 

any   other   church   in    our   communion,   with 
which  God,  in  his  providence,  may  order  his 
lot,  and  when  so  received  his  responsibility  tc 
this  church  will  cease. 
Ey  order  of  Session. 

A.  E.,  Moderator. 

This  certificate  is  valid  only  for  one  year 
from  its  date,  "  except  where  there  is  no  op- 
portunity of  presenting  it  to  a  church/'  See 
Eook  of  Discipline,  chap.  xi.  sec.  ii. 

[When  the  person  dismissed  is  a  ruling  elder,  the  following 
paragraph  may  be  added  to  the  above  certificate : — ] 

it  is  proper  to  add  that  Mr.  C.  has,  for  the 

space  of years,  sustained  the  office  of  ruling 

elder,  to  the  edification  of  the  church,  and 
enjoyed  the  fraternal  confidence  and  affection 
of  his  brethren  in  the  eldership. 

[When  the  person  dismissed  is  a  deacon,  the  same  paragraph 
may  be  added  to  the  certificate,  only  substituting  the  title 
"  deacon"  for  that  of  "ruling  elder,"  and  for  the  words  "of  hia 
brethren  in  the  Session"  the  words  "  of  its  officers."'] 

[When  the  person  dismissed  has  "neglected,  for  a  reasonable 
time,  to  apply  for"  a  certificate,  the  Book  of  Discipline  directs 
(chap.  xi.  sees.  iii.  and  iv.)  that  the  certificate  shall  not  endorse 


LETTER    OF    CREDENCE.  21 

"his  demeanor"  during  the  interval,  "  unless  the  judicatory  have 
good  information  of  a  more  recent  date.'1  In  ordinary  cases 
here  contemplated,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  add  to  the  first  clauso 
of  the  foregoing  certificate,  after  the  word  "  standing,"] 

Up  to  the  time  of  his  removal  from  our 
bounds. 


&  f  tttar  0f  Crttona. 

E ,  January  1, 18 — . 

This  is  to  certify  that  II.  N.  is  a  member  of 
the  [First]  Presbyterian  Church  in  this  [vil- 
lage], in  good  and  regular  standing. 

As  he  contemplates  spending  some  [weeks] 
in  journeying,  this  Letter  of  Credence  is  given 
to  him,  that  it  may  introduce  him  to  the  people 
of  God,  and  facilitate  his  occasional  commu- 
nion with  :iny  church  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ  among  whom  he  may  for  the 
time  be  sojourning. 

By  order  of  the  Session. 

A.  B.,  Moderator. 

[In  such  a  letter,  if  the  person  to  whom  it  is  given  is  an 
officer  in  the  church,  the  title  of  his  office — as  ruling  elder,  or 
deacon — should  be  substituted  in  the  first  line  for  the  word 
member. 

A  Letter  of  Credence  may,  in  many  cases,  be  appropriately 
given  by  the  pastor,  without  the  action  of  the  Session.  Its 
general  introduction  is  earnestly  recommended,  as  adapted  to 
promote  the  comfort  of  those  who  carry  it,  ard  to  be,  in  many 
ways,  of  great  utility. 


22  THE    PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

Such  a  letter  may  also  be  given  to  a  member  of  the  church 
who  is  about  to  remove  from  its  bounds,  but  who  may  not  be 
able  to  designate,  at  the  time,  the  church  to  which  he  will  desiro 
to  be  recommended.  In  such  a  case,  the  second  paragraph 
should  commence : — ] 

As  he  is  about  to  remove  [or,  has  removed] 
from  our  bounds,  but  has  not  yet  been  able  to 
determine  with  what  particular  church  to 
connect  himself,  this  Letter  of  Credence,  &c. 

[In  the  case  of  a  member  removing  Ms  residence  beyond  the 
bounds  of  the  church,  as  contemplated  in  the  preceding  formula, 
the  following  paragraph  should  be  added  to  the  letter,  namely : — ] 

It  is  understood  that,  when  he  shall  have 
located  himself,  he  will,  without  delay,  apply 
for  a  certificate  of  dismission  from  this  church, 
that  he  may  place  himself  regularly  under  the 
care  of  some  evangelical  church  of  Christ 
which  may  be  convenient  to  his  new  residence. 


0f  a  f  mt  at 

[After  the  sermon  is  ended,  let  the  elders,  the  deacons,  and 
the  trustees  arrange  themselves  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  while  the 
other  heads  of  families  rise  in  their  places,  or  come  forward,  as 
may  be  convenient,  that  they  may  be  addressed  by  the  minister 
who  is  to  offer  the  prayer  of  dedication.  Then  let  the  minister 
say :— ] 

According  to  the  notice  publicly  given,  we 


DEDICATION   OF   A   HOUSE   OF   WORSHIP.      23 

have  assembled  to-day  to  dedicate  this  house 
to  the  worship  of  the  only  living  and  true  God, 
— Jehovah,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost. 

Now,  if  it  is  your  desire  that  we  should  pro- 
ceed to  this  service,  let  the  officers  of  the  church, 
and  the  trustees,  together  with  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation,  declare  unto  us,  and 
say:— 

Have  you  been  moved  to  the  erection  of  this 
edifice  by  a  sincere  desire  to  establish  [or,  to 
continue]  among  you  the  regular  and  solemn 
worship  of  the  Most  High  God,  for  the  spiritual 
benefit  of  yourselves  and  your  families,  and  of 
this  community? 

Answer.     We  have. 

Is  it  your  sincere  desire,  and  your  solemn 
purpose,  that  this  edifice  shall  be  a  house  of 
worship,  separated  from  secular  uses,  and  de- 
voted sacredly  to  the  ordinances  of  religion, 
according  to  the  customs  and  order  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  tiiese  United  States? 

Answer.     It  is. 

Do  you  now,  with  one  heart,  give  up  this 
house  to  God,  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost,  to  be  henceforth  a  house  of  prayer, 
a  temple  to  his  praise;  and  do  you  promise  to 
provide  for  and  to  maintain  here  religious 
worship,  seeing  to  it  that  nothing  shall  be 
wanting  that  may  be  needful  for  the  decency, 


24  THE   PRESBYTERIAN   MANUAL. 

and  propriety,  and  convenience  thereof,  accord- 
ing to  the  customs  and  order,  as  aforesaid,  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  ? 
Answer.    "We  do. 

Elessed  be  the  Lord  God,  who  hath  put  it 
into  your  hearts  to  build  this  house  unto  his 
name.  The  Lord  accept  the  labor  of  yout 
hands,  which  you  have  offered  unto  him  this 
day,  and  make  good  to  you,  and  to  your 
children  after  you,  the  word  which  he  hath 
spoken: — "In  all  places  where  I  record  my 
name  I  will  come  unto  thee,  and  I  will  bless 
thee!" 

Let  us  pray. 

[This  order  of  dedication  may  be  introduced  at  any  part  of 
the  exercises,  as  may  be  deemed  expedient;  although  the  most 
natural  place  for  the  dedication  is  that  already  indicated,—- 
"  after  the  sermon."] 


f  0rw  f0r  %  Iptwfos  01  a 


STATED    MEETING. 


The  Presbytery  of  H.  met  in  the  Presby* 
terian  church  in  C.  on  Tuesday,  April  17,  18  —  , 
at  three  o'clock,  P.M.,  and  was  opened  with  a 
sermon  by  the  Moderator,  the  Kev.  A.  B.;  from 


MINUTES   OF  A   PRESBYTERY.  25 

1  Cor.  iii.  11 : — "  For  other  foundation  can  no 
man  lay  than  that  is  laid,  which  is  Jesus 
Christ/' 

After  the  sermon,  the  Moderator  oifered 
prayer,  and  the  Presbytery  proceeded  to  the 
transaction  of  business. 

The  roll  was  made  out,  and  is  as  follows : — * 

MINISTERS.  CHURCHES.  ZLDEES. 

J.  D. 

R  A.  C.  J.  M. 

A.  B.  E.  E.  F. 
C.  E. 

B.  J.  B.  N.  L. 

E.  B.  D. 

W  L.  K. 

The  following  ministers  were  absent,  namely 
—the  Eev.  Messrs.  O.  E.,  D.  P.,  and  E.  F. 

The  following  churches  were  unrepresented, 
namely: — D.,  A.,  J.,  and  M. 

The  Eev.  B.  J.  was  elected  Moderator,  and 


*  In  making  out  the  roll,  the  names  of  the  ministers  should 
always  follow  each  other  according  to  their  seniority  of  ordi- 
nation. The  name  of  each  church  should  be  placed  on  the 
same  line  with  that  of  its  pastor  or  stated  supply.  The  name 
of  a  minister  without  charge,  or  of  one  whose  church  is  not 
represented,  should  not  have  that  of  a  church  on  the  same  line; 
and  a  vacant  church,  or  one  whose  pastor  is  absent;  should  oc- 
cupy a  line  by  itself, — as  in  the  text. 
3 


26  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

the  Ecv.  Messrs.  E.  A.  and  C.  E.  were  elected 
Clerks. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  stated  meeting,  and 
also  of  the  adjourned  and  special  meetings, 
were  read. 

The  members  who  had  been  absent  from 
either  of  these  meetings,  and  also  the  Sessions 
which  had  been  unrepresented,  were  called 
upon  for  their  excuses : — and 

The  excuses,  having  been  rendered,  were  sus- 
tained. 

The  Key.  Messrs.  D.  O.,  of  the  Presb3^tery 
of  L.,  E.  K.,  of  the  Association  of  B.,  Mass., 
and  W.  E.  N.,  of  the  Presbytery  of  T.,  being 
present,  were  invited  to  sit  as  corresponding 
members. 

The  docket  of  business  was  then  presented, 
and  read  by  the  Stated  Clerk. 

The  Treasurer  presented  his  annual  report, 
which,  having  been  read,  wras  referred  to 
Messrs.  L.  and  F.?  elders,  for  examination. 

The  Moderator  gave  notice  that  the  Pres- 
bytery was  ready  to  receive  such  letters  and 
papers,  designed  to  be  brought  before  it  for 
consideration,  as  may  be  in  the  hands  of  per- 
sons present.* 

*  The  "  Committee  of  Bills  and  Overtures"  is  deemed  by 
gome  not  unskilful  in  ecclesiastical  matters  to  be  unnecessary 
in  a  body  whoso  members  are  so  few  as  in  many  of  our  smaller 


MINUTES    OF   A   PRESBYTERY.  27 

The  Rev.  D.O.  presented  a  certificate  of  dis- 
mission and  recommendation  from  the  Presby- 
tery of  L.,  and  requested  that  he  may  be  re- 
ceived as  a  member  of  this  Presbytery. 

The  certificate,  having  been  read,  was  found 
to  be  in  order,  and  the  Eev.  Mr.  O.  was  re- 
ceived, according  to  his  request. 

A  paper  was  presented  purporting  to  be  a 
call  from  the  congregation  in  W.  for  the  pas- 
toral services  of  the  Rev.  D.  O.;  and 

Messrs.  L.  K.,  K.  M.,  and  II.  S.  appeared 
before  the  Presbytery  as  commissioners  on  the 


Presbyteries ;  and  in  its  place  this  "  call  for  papers"  has  been 
adopted. 

According  to  this  mode,  business  is  introduced  on  the  "call 
for  papers,"  and  may  bo  cither  considered  at  once  and  de- 
cided, or  placed  upon  the  docket  for  future  consideration,  or 
referred  to  a  special  committee,  on  whose  report  the  Presbytery 
proceeds  to  issue  the  matter. 

When  any  of  the  "  papers"  presented  are  found  to  pertain  to 
judicial  business,  a  "judicial  committee"  should  always  be 
appointed,  to  which  such  papers  should  be  referred  at  once, 
without  reading,  so  that  the  "merits  of  a  case"  may  not 
come  prematurely  before  the  body  which  may  have  to  act  judi- 
cially upon  it. 

The  "call  for  papers"  has  been  exhibited  in  the  text,  as  a 
mode  that  has  proved  satisfactory  where  it  has  been  adopted. 
Presbyteries  which  prefer  making  the  appointment  of  the 
Committee  of  Bills  and  Overtures  and  the  Judicial  Committee 
as  standing  committees,  are  referred  to  the  "  Form  for  the  Record 
of  a  Synod,"  in  which  the  appointment  and  operation  of  these 
committees  are  fully  given. 


28  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

part  of  »the  congregation,  appointed  to  prose- 
cute the  call. 

The  paper,  having  been  read,  was  found  to 
be  in  order;  and,  by  the  direction  of  the  Pres- 
bytery, it  was  presented  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  O.  for 
his  consideration. 

The  pastor  elect  then  signified  his  acceptance 
of  the  call;  and, 

At  the  request  of  the  commissioners,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  the  Presbytery  will  proceed 
to  install  the  Rev.  D.  O.,  as  pastor  of  the  con- 
gregation in  W.,  on  the  2d  day  of  May  next, 
agreeably  to  the  desire  of  the  congregation; 
and 

The  Eev.  Messrs.  B.  and  O.,  and  Mr.  K., 
elder,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  make 
the  necessary  arrangements  for  the  installa- 
tion. 

The  Rev.  R.  K.  presented  a  certificate  of  dis- 
mission and  recommendation  from  the  Associa- 
tion of  B.,  Mass.,  and  applied  to  be  received  as 
a  member  of  this  Presbytery. 

The  certificate  wras  read,  and  was  found  to 
be  in  order.* 


#  Upon  the  application  of  a  minister  of  another  denomina- 
tion for  admission  to  a  Presbytery,  it  is  the  privilege  of  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbytery  to  satisfy  themselves,  by  inquiry  of  the 
applicant,  as  to  his  agreement  with  the  doctrines  held  by  the 
body. 


MINUTES  OF  A  PRESET  TERY.        29 

The  Moderator  then  proposed  to  the  appli- 
cant the  2d,  3d,  4th,  and  6th  questions  pre- 
scribed in  the  "Form  of  Government/'  chap.  xv. 
sec.  xii. 

Satisfactory  answers  to  these  questions  having 
been  received, 

The  application  of  the  Eev.  E.  K.  was  granted, 
ar-d  he  was  received  [or  enrolled]  as  a  member 
of  this  Presbytery. 

A  recess  was  then  taken  until  seven  o'clock. 

At  seven  o'clock  the  Eev.  J.  D.  preached,  ac- 
cording to  appointment,  on  the  doctrine  of  the 
Trinity,  from  2  Cor.  xiii.  14 : — u  The  grace  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  love  of  God,  and  the 
communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  with  you  all 
Amen/' 

After  the  services  were  concluded, 

The  Presbytery  resumed  tho  transaction  of 
business. 

The  Eev.  E.  F.  and  Mr.  J.E.,  elder  from  the 
church  in  M.,  appeared  in  the  Presbytery,  and 
gave  their  reasons  for  late  attendance,  which 
were  sustained. 

The  Moderator  announced  the  following  com- 
mittees* 


*  At  this  point,  at  the  stated  spring  meeting,  the  Moderator 
should  appoint  a  "  Committee  on  the  Minutes  of  the  Synod," 


30  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

On  the  Records  of  the  Sessions: 

Of  the  Church  in  C.— The  Eev.  Mr.  D.;  and 
Mr.  L.,  elder. 

Of  the  Church  in  K—The  Eev.  Mr.  A.,  and 
Mr.  D.,  elder. 

Of  the  Church  in  B.—  The  Eev.  Mr.  K,  and 
Mr.  K.,  elder. 

Of  the  Church  in  R.— The  Eev.  Mr.  K.,  and 
Mr.  M.,  elder. 

Of  the  Church  in  W—  The  Eev.  Mr.  E.,  and 
Mr.  R,  elder. 

Of  the  Church  in  M.— The  Eev.  Mr.  O.,  and 
Mr.  F.,  elder. 

It  was  made  the  order  of  the  day  for  to- 
morrow morning,  at  ten  o'clock,  to  hear  the 
Narratives  of  the  State  of  Eeligion,  and  the 
Statistical  Reports,  of  the  several  churches: — 
and 

The  Eev.  Messrs.  F.  and  B.,  and  Mr.D.,  elder, 
were  appointed  the  committee  to  prepare  the 
Narrative  of  the  State  of  Eeligion  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Presbytery. 

It  was  made  the  second  order  of  the  day  for 
to-morrow  morning,  to  elect  commissioners  to 

if  they  have  been  printed;  and,  at  the  stated  autumnal  meet- 
_ng,  a  "  Committee  on  the  Minutes  of  the  General  Assembly." 
For  the  appropriate  minutes  respecting  such  committees,  and 
the  action  of  the  body  on  their  reports,  see  the  "Form  for  the 
/lecords  o/  a  Synod,"  pages and . 


MINUTES    OF   A   PRESBYTERY.  31 

represent  this  Presbytery  in  the  next  General 
Assembly. 

The  Committee  on  Presbyterial  Missions  re- 
ported. Their  report  was  accepted;  and  it 
was,  unanimously, 

Resolved,  That  the  Presbytery  renew  its  ap- 
pointment of  the  Rev.  B.  B.  as  its  missionary,  to 
labor,  as  heretofore,  within  the  bounds  of  this 
Presbytery,  and  at  the  same  salary  as  the  past 
year;  and  that  the  Committee  on  Presby- 
terial Missions  consist  of  the  same  members  as 
before,  with  the  substitution  of  Eev.  Mr.  O.  for 
Eev.  J.  T. 

A  communication  was  received  from  the 
General  Assembly's  Board  of  Publication,  re- 
specting the  objects  and  plans  of  the  Board ; 
and  it  was  placed  upon  the  docket  for  future 
consideration. 

A  paper  was  presented,  which  purported  to 
be  a  complaint  of  certain  parties  in  regard  to 
the  action  of  the  Session  of  one  of  the  churches 
under  the  care  of  this  Presbytery. 

The  paper  was  referred  to  the  Judicial  Com- 
mittee, to  be  appointed  b}'  the  Moderator  before 
the  adjournment  of  the  Presbytery  this  even- 
ing. 

A  request  was  received  from  the  Session  of 
the  church  in  B.,  that  the  Presbytery  will 
grant  to  them  supplies  for  their  pulpit  for  at 


32  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

least  one  Sabbath  in  each  month,  until  the  next 
stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery. 

The  request  was  granted  ;  and 

The  Eev.  Messrs.  E.  and  F.,  and  Mr.  D.,  the 
elder  representing  that  Session,  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  arrange  the  order  in  which  the 
members  shall  supply  the  pulpit  of  the  church 
inE. 

The  Moderator  announced  the  Judicial  Com- 
mittee as  follows,  namely : — 

The  Eev.  Messrs.  B.  and  D.?  and  Mr.  E., 
elder. 

The  Presbytery  then  adjourned,  to  meet  to- 
morrow morning,  at  eight  o'clock,  in  this  place. 

Concluded  with  prayer. 

Wednesday,  April  18,  18—. 

The  Presbytery  met,  pursuant  to  its  adjourn- 
ment, and  was  opened  with  prayer. 

The  roll  was  then  called;  and,  in  addition  to 
the  members  present  yesterday,  the  Eev.  D.P., 
and  Messrs.  B.  W.,  elder  from  the  church  in  A., 
and  E.  !N".,  elder  from  the  church  in  J".,  ap- 
peared in  the  Presbytery,  and  gave  the  rea- 
sons for  their  previous  absence;  which  were 
sustained. 

The  minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  yesterday 
were  read  and  approved. 

The  examination  of  candidates  for  licensuro 


\ 


MINUTES    OF   A   PRESBYTERY.  33 

to  preach  the  gospel  was  made  the  order  of  tho 
day  for  two  o'clock  this  afternoon. 

Mr.  K.,  elder,  and  the  Eev.  Mr.  P.,  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  nominate  a  preacher, 
and  to  propose  a  subject  for  the  discourse  to  be 
delivered  on  the  Tuesday  evening  of  the  stated 
autumnal  meeting  of  the  Presbytery. 

The  committee  to  audit  the  Treasurer's 
accounts  presented  the  following  report, 
namely : — 

The  committee  to  which  the  Treasurer's 
accounts  were  referred  for  examination  begs 
leave  respectfully  to  report,  that,  having  care- 
fully examined  the  said  accounts,  it  finds  them 
to  be  correct,  as  compared  with  the  vouchers 
accompanying  them.  To  this  report  the  com- 
mittee, having  been  advised  by  the  Treasurer 
that  the  balance  in  his  hands  is  not  sufficient 
to  meet  the  incidental  expenses  of  the  Presby- 
tery, would  add  the  recommendation,  that  a 
tax  of  one  dollar  should  be  collected  from  each 
of  the  churches. 

The  report  was  accepted,  and  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  committee  was  adopted. 

Mr.  W.,  elder,  was  appointed  a  committee  to 
collect  the  amount  specified  from  the  elders 
present. 

Mr.  N.,  elder,  stated  to  the  Presbytery  that 
the  congregation  in  J.  has  called  the  Eev.  T. 


34  THE   PRESBYTERIAN   MANUAL. 

S.,  of  the  Presbytery  of  IL,  to  become  its 
pastor,  and  that  he  and  Mr.  Z.  H.,  who  is  also 
present,  have  been  appointed  commissioners  to 
prosecute  the  call. 

The  commissioners  then  placed  the  call  in 
the  hands  of  the  Moderator,  and  requested 
leave  to  prosecute  it  before  the  Presbytery 
of  U. 

The  call  was  found  to  be  in  order;  and 

Leave  was  granted  to  the  commissioners  to 
prosecute  it  before  the  Presbytery  of  U. 

Mr.  N".  had  leave  of  absence  from  the  re- 
maining sessions  of  the  Presbytery. 

The  next  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery 
was  appointed  to  be  holden  in  the  Presby- 
terian church  in  A.,  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  in 
September  next,  at  three  o'clock,  P.M. 

The  committee  appointed  to  make  arrange- 
ments for  the  installation  of  the  Eev.  D.  O.  as 
the  pastor  of  the  congregation  in  W.,  reported, 
recommending  that  the  sermon  be  preached 
by  the  Eev.  C.  E.;  that  the  Moderator  preside, 
and  "constitute  the  pastoral  relation;"  that 
the  Eev.  J.  D.  deliver  the  charge  to  the  pastor, 
[or  bishop,]  and  the  Eev.  A.  B.  the  charge  to 
the  people;  and  that  the  concluding  prayer  be 
offered  by  the  Eev.  D.  P. 

The  committee  further  recommends  that,  at 
the  close  of  the  present  sessions,  the  Presby- 


MINUTES    OF  A   PRESBYTERY.  35 

tery  should  adjourn,  to  meet  in  the  Presby- 
terian church  in  W.,  on  the  2d  day  of  May 
next,  at  ten  o'clock,  A.M.* 

The  report  of  the  committee  was  adopted.   1 

The  Presbytery  then  proceeded  to  the  order 
of  the  day.  The  Statistical  Eeports  of  the 
Churches  were  read,  and  the  Narratives  of  the 
State  of  Eeligion  were  given  by  the  pastors 
and  elders  of  the  several  churches. 

The  second  order  of  the  day  was  then  taken 
up,  and  the  Presbytery  proceeded  to  the  elec- 
tion of  commissioners  to  represent  the  Presby- 
tery in  the  next  General  Assembly. 

The  Kev.  A.  B.,  and  Mr.  J.  E.,  elder,  were 
duly  elected  the  commissioners ;  and  the  Eev. 

*  When  the  person  to  be  installed  is  already  an  ordained 
minister,  and  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  with  which  the 
church  is  connected,  if  there  is  no  other  business  to  call  for  an 
adjourned  meeting  of  the  judicatory,  it  is  usual  to  appoint  the 
members,  to  whom  the  several  parts  of  the  service  are  assigned, 
a  committee  to  perform  the  installation,  in  the  name  and  on 
behalf  of  the  Presbytery.  This  course  is  allowed  in  the  "  Foi-m 
of  Government,"  chap.  xvi.  sec.  iv.  Such  a  committee  is  often 
called  a  commission,  because  it  is  empowered  to  act,  in  the  busi- 
ness assigned  to  it,  in  the  place  of  the  judicatory,  and  its  report 
is  made  to  inform  the  body  that  the  business  is  consummated ; 
whereas  the  report  of  a  committee  presents  business  arranged  in 
proper  order  for  the  consideration  and  action  of  the  judicatory. 
This  distinction  is  presented  here,  because  it  is  regarded  by 
many  as  at  once  convenient  and  important 


36  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL 

D.  P.,  and  Mr.  N.  L.;  elder,  were  elected  their 
alternates. 

The  roll  of  the  churches  under  the  care,  of 
the  Presbytery  was  then  called,  and  the 
amounts  collected  in  the  several  congrega- 
tions for  the  Commissioners'  and  Contingent 
Funds  of  the  General  Assembly  were  paid  to 
the  Treasurer. 

The  total  amounts  received  were,  $ for 

the  Commissioners'  Fund,  and  $ for  the 

Contingent  Fund : — and 

The  Treasurer  was  directed  to  forward  the 
same  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly. 

The  communication  from  the  General  As- 
sembly's Board  of  Publication,  which  had  been 
put  upon  the  docket,  was  taken  up  for  con- 
sideration. 

The  communication  was  read,  and 

The  following  resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted : — 

Resolved,  1.  That  the  Presbytery  has  heard 
with  satisfaction  the  resolutions  of  the  General 
Assembly  with  regard  to  the  means  for  the 
promotion  of  the  work  intrusted  to  its  Publi- 
cation Board. 

Resolved,  2.  That  the  session  of  each  of  the 
churches  under  our  care  be  earnestly  exhorted 


MINUTES    OF   A   PRESBYTERY.  37 

to  take  measures  to  carry  out  the  recommend- 
ations of  the  Assembly. 

Resolved,  3.  That  Messrs.  D.  B.  and  E.  be  a 
committee  to  ascertain  the  best  mode  of  se- 
curing the  circulation  of  the  publications  of 
the  Board  within  our  bounds,  and  that  they 
report  at  the  next  stated  meeting  of  Presby- 
tery. 

Messrs.  D.  and  W.,  elders,  had  leave  of  ab- 
sence from  the  remaining  sessions  of  the  Pres- 
bytery. 

A  recess  was  then  taken  until  half-past  one 
o'clock. 

After  the  recess, 

The  committee  to  collect  the  tax  for  the 
incidental  expenses  of  the  Presbytery  reported 
that  he  had  received  one  dollar  from  each  of 
the  elders  present:  the  total  sum  received 
being  eight  dollars. 

The  Treasurer  was  directed  to  obtain  the 
tax  from  the  church  in  D.,  which  has  not  been 
represented  in  the  present  Sessions  of  the 
Presbytery. 

The  committees  on  the  Eecords  of  the  Ses- 
sions of  C.,  E.,  R,  W.y  and  M.,  severally  re- 
ported, recommending  that  they  be  approved, 
as  far  as  written. 

The  reports  were  adopted. 

The  Eev.  D.  P.  assigned  the  reasons  why  the 


38  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

records  of  the  Session  of  the  church  in  A,  had 
not  been  laid  before  the  Presbytery  during  the 
present  meeting. 

The  reasons  were  sustained. 

The  committee  on  the  Records  of  the  Ses- 
sion of  B.  reported,  recommending  that  they 
be  approved  as  far  as  written,  with  the  follow- 
ing exceptions,  namely: — 

1.  That  the  records  are  not  signed,  either  by 
the  Moderator  or  by  the  Clerk. 

2.  On  pages  75  and  77,  the  Session  appears 
to  have  adjourned,  in  both  instances,  without 
concluding  their  meeting  with  prayer. 

3.  On  pages  79-81,  in  "recording  the  pro- 
ceedings  in   a    case   of  judicial  process,   the 
reasons  for  the  decisions''  made  are  not  "re- 
corded at  length,"  as  required  by  the  "Book 
©f  Discipline,"  chapter  iv.  section  xxiii. 

The  report  was  adopted. 

IChe  order  of  the  day  was  postponed  for  the 
purpose  of  receiving  a  report  from  the  Judicial 
Committee. 

The  report  was  in  the  words  following, 
namely : — 

The  paper  which  was  referred  to  the  Judicial 
Committee  purports  to  be  a  complaint  against 
the  Session  of  one  of  the  churches  under  the 
care  of  the  Presbytery,  because  of  its  refusing 
to  commence  a  case  of  judicial  process  against 


MINUTES    OF   A   PRESBYTERY.  39 

an  individual  specified,  on  the  ground  of  com 
mon  fame. 

The  committee,  having  carefully  considered 
the  statements  set  forth  in  the  paper,  is 
clearly  of  the  opinion  that  there  is  no 
ground  of  complaint  against  the  Session,  be- 
cause, by  the  showing  of  the  complainants 
themselves,  the  offence,  if  any,  was  strictly 
of  a  private  nature,  according  to  the  "  Book 
of  Discipline,"  chapter  ii.  This  will  be  evi- 
dent on  the  reading  of  a  brief  extract  from 
the  paper. 

The  committee  presents  this  extract  only, 
since  the  reading  of  the  whole  paper  would 
tend  to  give  unnecessary  publicity  to  the  mat- 
ters involved,  and  of  the  truth  of  which  there 
is  no  evidence  properly  within  the  reach  of  the 
Presbytery. 

In  conclusion,  the  committee  recommends 
the  adoption  of  the  following  resolution  : — 

Resolved,  That  the  said  paper,  purporting  to 
be  a  complaint,  be  dismissed  for  the  reason 
stated  in  the  foregoing  report. 

The  extract  referred  to  by  the  committee 
was  then  read ;  and 

The  report  was  unanimously  adopted. 

The  Presbytery  then  proceeded  to  the  order 
of  the  day,  namely : — the  examination  of  can- 
didates for  licensure. 


40  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

The  Eev.  A.  B.  introduced  to  the  Presbytery 
Mr.  J.  (jr.,  a  member  of  the  church  in  E.,  and 
recommended  him  as  a  suitable  person  to  -be 
" taken  on  trials"  as  a  "candidate  for  Keen- 
sure." 

The  Presbytery  proceeded  to  examine  Mr. 
G.  "  respecting  his  experimental  acquaintance 
with  religion,  and  the  motives  which  influence 
him  to  desire  the  sacred  office." 

The  examination  having  proved  satisfactory 
to  the  Presbytery,  it  was  sustained,  and 

Mr.  G.  was  "  taken  on  trials"  as  a  "  candi- 
date for  licensure." 

The  Eev.  Messrs.  B.  and  P.  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  recommend  the  subjects  to  be 
assigned  to  Mr.  G.  for  his  trial-pieces. 

Mr.  T.  Y.,  a  candidate  under  the  care  of  the 
Presbytery,  then  made  application  for  licensure 
at  the  present  meeting. 

Mr.  Y.  having  completed  the  usual  course  of 
study  in  preparation  for  the  ministry,  and  his 
examination  in  several  departments  of  learn- 
ing required  by  the  "  Form  of  Govern- 
ment," as  well  as  the  trial-pieces  which  he 
has  presented,  having  at  a  former  meeting  of 
the  Presbytery  been  sustained  as  "  parts  of 
trial," 

The  Presbytery  proceeded  to  examine  him 
"  on  Theology,  Natural  and  Revealed,  and  on 


MINUTES    OF   A   PRESBYTERS'.  41 

Ecclesiastical  History,  the  Sacraments,  and 
Church  Government."* 

The  examination  in  each  of  these  depart* 
ments  having  been  sustained, 

Mr.  Y.  was  directed  to  come  this  evening 
prepared  to  read  his  "  popular  sermon." 

Messrs.  S.  H.  and  J.  T.  appeared  in  the 
Presbytery  as  commissioners  from  the  congre- 
gation of  P.,  in  the  Presbytery  of  D.,  deputed 
to  prosecute  a  call  to  the  Eev.  E.  F.  to  be- 
come their  pastor. 

The  commissioners  (t  produced  a  certificate 
from  their  own  Presbytery,  regularly  attested 
by  the  Moderator  and  Clerk,  that  the  call  has 
been  laid  before  them,  and  that  it  is  in  order/' 
and  requested  leave  to  prosecute  the  same. 

It  having  appeared  that  "the  parties"  are 
"not  prepared  to  have  the  matter  issued"  at 
the  present  Sessions  of  the  Presbytery,  it  was 

Ordered,  That  the  Stated  Clerk  address  a 
written  citation  to  the  Eev.  E.  F.  "and  his 
congregation  to  appear  before  the  Presbytery" 
at  the  adjourned  meeting;  and  the  Eev.  C.  E. 
was  appointed  to  preach  at  M.  on  the  next 
Sabbath,  and  to  read  the  citation  "  from  the 


*  The  appointment,  yearly,  of  examiners  upon  each  de- 
partment will  greatly  promote  order,  comfort,  and  thoroughness 
in  the  examination  of  candidates. 


42  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

pulpit   in   that   church/'    "immediately   after 
public  worship."* 

The  committee  to  which  was  referred  the 
matter  of  arranging  the  order  of  supply  for 
the  pulpit  of  the  church  in  R.  reported  the 

[*  If  the  call  from  a  congregation  in  another  Presbytery 
shall  be  addressed  to  a  minister  "without  charge,"  the  minute 
should  be  as  in  the  text,  through  the  second  paragraph,  and 
then  proceed : — ] 

By  the  direction  of  the  Presbytery,  the  call  was  placed  in  the 
hands  of  Mr.  D.  for  consideration ;  and, 

He  having  signified  his  disposition  to  accept  it, 
The  following  resolution  was  adopted,  namely  : — 
Resolved,  That  the  Rev.  J.  !>.,  having  accepted  the  call  from 
the  congregation  of  P.,  be,  and  he  hereby  is,  dismissed  from 
this  Presbytery,  and  recommended  to  the  Presbytery  of  D.; 
and  he  is  hereby  required  "  to  repair  to  that  Presbytery,  thafc 
the  proper  steps  may  b©  taken  for  his  regular  settlement  in  that 
congregation." 

[If  such  a  call  shall  be  addressed  to  a  licentiate,  the  words 
"the  Rev.  R.  F./'  in  the  first  paragraph  of  the  minute  of  the 
text,  should  be  replaced  by  the  words  "the  licentiate  D.  R." 
Then,  after  the  second  paragraph,  if  the  licentiate  is  present, 
proceed : — ] 

The  Presbytery  directed  that  the  call  should  be  placed  in  the 
bands  of  Mr.  R.  for  his  determination  thereon;  and, 
He  having  signified  his  disposition  to  accept  it, 
The  following  resolution  was  adopted,  namely: — 
Resolved,    That   the   licentiate  D.  R.,  having   accepted   the 
call  from  the  congregation  in  P.,  be,  and  he  hereby  is,  dis- 
missed from  the  jurisdiction  of  this  Presbytery,  and  recom- 
mended to  that  of  the  Presbytery  of  D.j  and  he  is  hereby 


MINUTES    OF   A   PRESBYTERY.  43 

following  schedule,  which  w^as  adopted,  name- 
ly:- 

SUPPLIES    FOR   THE    PULPIT    AT    11 . 

The  Rev.  Mr.  D.  to  preach  and  administer 
the  Lord's  Supper  in  May;  the  Sabbath  to  be 
arranged  by  him  after  conference  with  the 
Session; 

The  Eev.  Mr.  F.  to  preach  on  the  third 
Sabbath  in  June; 

The  Eev.  Mr.  B.  to  preach  on  the  first  Sab- 
bath in  July; 

The  Rev.  Mr.  O.  to  preach  on  the  third 
Sabbath  in  July; 

The  Eev.  Mr.  J.  to  preach  and  administer 
the  Lord's  Supper  on  the  second  Sabbath  in 
August; 

The  Eev.  Mr.  A.  to  preach  on  the  fourth 
Sabbath  in  August;  and 


required  "to   repair  to  that  Presbytery,  and  there   to  submit 
himself  to  the  usual  trials  preparatory  to  ordination." 

[If  the  person  to  whom  the  call  is  addressed,  whether  a 
minister  without  charge,  or  a  licentiate,  should  not  be  present 
in  the  Presbytery,  it  will  be  necessary  that  he  should  be  cited 
to  attend  the  adjourned  meeting;  and  the  record,  after  the 
second  paragraph  in  the  text,  should  be : — ] 

The  Rev.  J.  D.  [or  Mr.  D.  R.]  not  being  present  to  answer 
the  call, 

The  Stated  Clerk  was  directed  to  cite  him  to  appear  before 
the  Presbytery  at  the  adjourned  meeting. 


14  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

The  Kev.  Mr.  P.  to  preach  on  the  second 
Sabbath  in  September. 

The  Moderator  stated  that  only  a  very  few 
items  of  business  remained  upon  the  docket, 
and  suggested  that,  in  the  session  of  the  Pres- 
bytery this  evening,  it  would  be  peculiarly 
appropriate,  both  to  the  close  of  the  sessions 
and  to  the  nature  of  the  matters  yet  to  be 
attended  to,  if  the  transaction  of  the  busi- 
ness should  be  alternated  with  devotional  exer- 
cises. 

The  suggestion  was  cordially  and  unani- 
mously adopted. 

A  recess  was  then  taken  until  seven  o'clock. 

After  the  recess, 

The  committee  appointed  to  nominate  a 
preacher  and  to  propose  a  subject  for  the  dis- 
course to  be  delivered  on  the  Tuesday  even- 
ing of  the  next  stated  meeting,  reported, 
recommending  that  the  Eev.  C.  E.  be  ap- 
pointed the  preacher,  and  that  the  Kev.  D.  P. 
be  his  alternate.  The  committee  also  pro- 
posed the  following  subject  for  the  discourse, 
namely : — "  The  Priesthood  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ." 

The  recommendations  in  this  report  were 
adopted. 

The  committee  which  was  appointed  to 
propose  the  subjects  for  the  trial-pieces  of  the 


MINUTES   OF   A   PRESBYTERY.  45 

candidate  J.  G.,  made  a  report,  recommending 
the  following  subjects,  namely: — 

1.  For  a  Latin  Exegesis: — De  Sanctificatione. 

2.  For  a    Critical    Exercise: — Eomans   viii. 
19-23. 

3.  For  a  Lecture: — Galatians  v.  22-25. 

4.  For  a  Popular  Sermon : — Hebrews  v.  9. 
The  report  was  adopted. 

The  committee  which  was  appointed  to 
prepare  the  Narrative  of  the  State  of  Eeligion 
within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  presented 
a  report,  which  was  adopted;  and 

The  Stated  Clerk  was  directed  to  transmit 
it,  together  with  the  Statistical  Report  of  the 
Presbytery,  to  the  next  General  Assembly. 

The  following  is  the 

NARRATIVE. 

[The  Narrative  may  here  be  engrossed  as  a  part  of  the 
minutes,  or  be  put  upon  file,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Presbytery.] 

Mr.  Y.,  the  candidate  under  examination, 
read  his  Popular  Sermon,  and  it  was  sustained 
as  a  "part  of  trial.0 

The  final  vote  was  then  taken,  and  it  was 
Resolved,  That  the  Presbytery,  having  been 
well  satisfied  with  the  several  "parts  of  trial" 
of  the  candidate  T.  Y.,  will  now  proceed  to 
license  him  to  preach  the  gospel  "  as  a  proba- 
tioner for  the  holy  ministry." 


46  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

The  candidate  was  -then  licensed  in  the 
manner  and  form  prescribed  in  the  "Form  of 
Government/'  chapter  xiv.  sections  vii.  and 
viii.;  and 

The  Stated  Clerk  was  directed  to  furnish 
the  licentiate  T.  Y.  with  the  usual  certificate 
of  his  licensure. 

The  transaction  of  business  this  evening  was 
alternated  with  devotional  exercises,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Moderator,  according  to  the 
previous  agreement. 

The  minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  to-day 
were  read  and  approved. 

After  which, 

The  Presbytery  adjourned,  to  meet  in  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  "W.,  on  the  2d  day  of 
May  next,  at  ten  o'clock,  A.M. 

Concluded  with  prayer,  singing  the  Doxo- 
logy,  and  the  benediction. 

A.  B.;  Stated  Clerk. 


The  Presbytery  met,  pursuant  to  adjourn- 
ment, in  the  Presbyterian  church  in  W.,  on 
Wednesday,  May  2d,  18 — ,  at  ten  o'clock,  A.M., 
and  was  opened  with  prayer  by  the  Moderator, 
the  Eev.  B.  J. 


ADJOURNED   MEETING    OF   PRESBYTERY.       47 

The  following  members  were  present,  name- 


[The  names  are  here  to  be  inserted,  as  in  the  minutes  of  the 
•tated  meeting.  The  names  of  the  absent  members,  also,  and 
of  the  churches  which  are  not  represented,  are  to  be  recorded 
as  at  a  stated  meeting.] 

So  much  of  the  minutes  of  the  stated  meet- 
ing as  pertains  to  the  several  items  of  business 
whi  1'h  were  laid  over  for  the  action  of  the 
Presbytery  at  this  adjourned  meeting  was 
then  read  for  the  information  of  the  judica- 
tory. 

After  which, 

The  call  of  the  congregation  of  P.  to  the 
Her.  E.  F.  to  become  its  pastor,  was  taken 
up  for  consideration. 

The  Stated  Clerk  reported,  that,  according 
to  the  order  adopted  at  the  stated  meeting,  he 
had  cited  the  Kev.  B.  F.  "  and  his  congregation 
to  attend  the  present  meeting,"  for  the  purpose 
of  having  the  matter  issued  respecting  his 
translation  to  the  congregation  of  P.,  in  the 
Presbytery  of  D.* 

The  Kev.  C.  E.  reported  that  he  had  preached 

*  The  "  Form  of  Government,"  chap.  xvi.  sec.  ii.,  directs 
that  "  at  least  two  Sabbaths  shall  intervene  betwixt  the  citation 
and  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  at  which  the  cause  of  th« 
translation  is  to  be  considered." 


48  THE   PRESBYTERIAN   MANUAL. 

at  M.,  according  to  the  direction  of  the  Pres- 
bytery, and  had  "read  the  citation  from  the 
pulpit  in  that  church  immediately  after  public 
worship." 

Messrs.  J.  E.  and  L.  E.  appeared  before  the 
Presbytery  as  commissioners  appointed  by  the 
congregation  of  M.  to  represent  it  in  the  matter 
of  the  proposed  translation  of  its  pastor. 

The  commissioners  from  the  congregation  of 
P.  were  also  present. 

By  the  direction  of  the  Presbytery,  the  call 
from  P.  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  F.  for 
his  reply;  and, 

He  having  signified  his  disposition  to  accept 
it, 

The  commissioners  from  the  congregation 
of  M.  were  called  upon  to  state  whether  that 
congregation  "agrees  to  the  translation"  of  the 
Rev.  E.  F.  to  the  congregation  of  P. 

Whereupon, 

The  commissioners  from  M.  proceeded  to 
state  at  length  certain  objections  which  that 
congregation  had  directed  them  to  present  for 
the  consideration  of  the  Presbytery. 

The  commissioners  from  the  congregation  of 
P.  were  also  heard  in  the  presentation  of  argu- 
ments in  favor  of  the  translation. 

When  they  had  concluded, 

The    hour   for  the  public    services  of   the 


ADJOURNED  MEETING  OF  PRESBYTERY.   49 

installation  of  the  Eev.  D.  O.  having  ar- 
rived, 

The  further  consideration  of  the  call  to 
Mr.  F.  was  postponed  until  after  the  instal- 
lation. 

The  Presbytery  then  proceeded  to  the  instal- 
lation of  the  Eev.  D.  O.  as  pastor  of  the  con- 
gregation of  W.,  and 

The  services  were  conducted  according  to 
the  arrangement  which  was  adopted  at  the 
stated  meeting. 

After  the  services, 

The  Presbytery  resumed  the  transaction  of 
business. 

The  call  from  the  congregation  of  P.  to  the 
Rev.  E.  F.  was  then  again  taken  up. 

When  all  the  parties  had  been  fully  heard, 

The  Presbytery,  after  careful  deliberation, 

Adopted  the  following  resolutions,  namely : — 

Resolved,  1.  That  the  pastoral  relation  here- 
tofore existing  between  the  Eev.  E.  F.  and  the 
congregation  of  M.  be,  and  the  same  hereby 
is,  dissolved,  with  a  view  to  his  accepting  the 
call  from  the  congregation  of  P. 

Resolved,  2.  That  the  Eev.  E.  F.,  having 
accepted  the  call  from  the  congregation  of  P., 
be,  and  he  hereby  is,  dismissed  from  this  Pres- 
bytery, and  recommended  to  the  Presbytery 
of  D. ;  and  he  is  hereby  required  "  to  repair  to 
5 


50  THE   PRESBYTERIAN   MANUAL. 

that  Presbytery,  that  the  proper  steps  may  be 
taken  for  his  regular  settlement  in  that  con- 
gregation/' 

The  Eev.  J.  D.  was  then  appointed  to  preach 
at  M.,  and,  in  the  name  of  the  Presbytery,  to 
pronounce  the  pulpit  vacant. 

Mr.  E.  1ST.,  one  of  the  commissioners  to  prose- 
cute the  call  of  the  congregation  in  J.  to  the 
Eev.  T.  S.  before  the  Presbytery  of  IT.,  informed 
the  Moderator  that  that  Presbytery  had  placed 
the  call  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  S.,  and  that,  he 
having  signified  his  acceptance  of  the  same, 
the  Presbytery  had  dismissed  him,  and  had  re- 
quired him  "  to  repair  to  this  Presbytery,  that 
the  proper  steps  may  be  taken  for  his  regular 
settlement." 

He  then  laid  before  the  Presbytery  "an 
authenticated  certificate"  of  these  transac- 
tions, "under  the  hand  of  the  Clerk"  of  the 
Presbytery  of  TL,  which  was  read,  and 

Mr.  S.  was  received  as  a  member  of  this 
Presbytery. 

The  commissioner  from  J".  then  informed  the 
Moderator  that  it  is  the  desire  of  the  congre- 
gation that  the  installation  may  take  place  on 

,  the  day  of  next,  at  two 

o'clock,  P.M. 

Whereupon,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  when  the   Presbytery  shall 


SPECIAL    MEETING    OF   PRESB 1TTERY.  51 

adjourn,  it  will  adjourn  to  meet  in  the  Presby- 
terian church  in  J.  on  ,  the day  of 

next,  at  one  o'clock,  P.M. 

The  minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  this  ad- 
journ ev  I  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 

After  which, 

The  Presbytery  adjourned,  to  meet  in  the 

Presbyterian  church  in  J.  on ,  the day 

of next,  at  one  o'clock,  P.M. 

Concluded  with  prayer  and  the  benediction. 
A.  B.,  Stated  Clerk. 

[The  .adjournment  ot  an  adjourned  meeting  should  be  in  the 
same  form  as  that  of  a  stated  meeting,  except  that  generally 
the  singing  at  the  close  may  be  omitted.  If  there  is  to  be  no 
adjourned  meeting  before  the  time  of  the  next  stated  meeting, 
the  adjournment,  whether  of  a  stated  or  of  an  adjourned  meet- 
ing, should  always  be  to  the  place  and  time  of  the  next  staled 
meeting.] 


0f 

The  Presbytery  met  in  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  B.  on  Thursday,  February  15th, 
18 — ,  at  eleven  o'clock,  A.M.,  pursuant  to  the 
call  of  the  Moderator,  the  Eev.  A.  B.,  and  was 
opened  with  prayer. 

The  call  of  the  Moderator  was  then  read, 
and  is  as  follows : — 


52  THE    PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

CIRCULAR   LETTER. 
[Here  insert  the  Moderator's  letter  in  full.] 

The  following  members  were  present,  name- 


[The  names  are  to  be  inserted  here,  as  in  the  minutes  of  the 
stated  meeting.  The  names  of  the  members  who  are  absent, 
and  of  the  churches  which  are  not  represented,  are  also  to  be 
recorded.] 

The  Presbytery  proceeded  to  the  transaction 
of  the  business  for  which  it  had  been  convened. 

The  Eev.  C.  M.  requested  leave  to  resign  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation  in  E.,  and 
assigned  the  reasons  which  have  induced  him 
to  make  this  request. 

Messrs.  B.  D.  and  G.  E.  appeared  before  the 
Presbytery  as  commissioners  from  the  congre- 
gation at  E.7  and  stated  that  a  meeting  of  the 
congregation  had  been  h  olden,  at  which  it  had 
been  determined  to  offer  no  obstruction  to  the 
granting  of  the  request  of  the  pastor,  although 
it  would  be  greatly  to  thev  satisfaction  of  the 
people  to  have  him  remain*  among  them  as 
heretofore. 

The  reasons  presented  by  Mr.  M.  for  his 
request  were  then  deliberately  considered;  and 
it  was 

Resolved,  That  his  request  be  granted,  and 
that  the  pastoral  relation  which  has  existed 


SPECIAL    MEETING   OF  PRESBYTERY.  53 

between  him  and  the  congregation  at  JR.  be, 
and  the  same  hereby  is;  dissolved  from  this 
day. 

The  Eev.  D.  P.  was  appointed  to  preach  at 
R.,  and,  in  the  name  of  the  Presbytery,  to 
pronounce  the  pulpit  vacant. 

The  Eev.  C.  M.  then  requested  a  dismission 
from  this  Presbytery,  and  a  recommendation 
to  the  Presbytery  of  1ST.,  into  the  bounds  of 
which  he  expects  shortly  to  remove. 

His  request  was  granted. 

Mr.  J.  K,  a  licentiate  under  the  care  of  tho 
Presbytery  of  B.,  presented  a  certificate  of 
dismission  and  recommendation  from  that  body, 
and  requested  to  be  taken  under  the  care  of 
this  Presbytery. 

The  certificate  having  been  found  to  be  in 
order, 

His  request  was  granted. 

A  joint  application  was  then  received  from 
the  licentiate  J.  K.,  and  the  Session  of  tho 
church  in  J.,  requesting  the  Presbytery  to 
proceed  to  ordain  him,  the  said  licentiate,  as 
an  evangelist,  with  a  view  to  his  taking 
charge  of  the  congregation  at  J.  as  its  stuicd 
supply. 

Mr.  E.  N.,  the  elder  representing  the  Session 
of  J.,  made  a  statement  of  the  situation  and 
prospects  of  that  congregation,  and  of  the 

5* 


54  THE    PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

reasons  which  had  induced  the  Session  to  join 
in  the  present  application. 

Whereupon, 

After  a  protracted  investigation  of  all  the 
circumstances  of  the  case  as  the  same  are  now 
before  the  judicatory, 

It  was  unanimously  Resolved, 

1.  That  while  the  Presbytery  is  disposed  to 
grant,    so   far   as   it    consistently   can,    every 
request  of  the  Session  of  the  church  in  J.,  and 
while  it  has  great  confidence  in  the  wisdom 
and  prudence  of  the  said  Session,  and  also  in 
the  character  of  Mr.  N., — so  far  as  it  has  en- 
joyed the  opportunity  of  becoming  acquainted 
with  him, — it  is  yet,  by  a  careful  examination 
of  the  whole  matter,  constrained  to  decide  that 
the  way  does  not  appear  to  be  prepared  to 
proceed  to  the  ordination  of  the  said  licentiate, 
J.  N.,  at  this  time. 

2.  That   the   further   consideration   of  the 
joint  application  be  postponed  until  the  stated 
meeting. 

The  minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  this  spe- 
cial meeting  were  read  and  approved. 

The  Presbytery  then  adjourned. 

Concluded  with  prayer  and  the  bene- 
diction. 

A.  E.,  Stated  Clerk. 


SPECIAL    MEETING    OF   PRESBYTERY.  55 

NOTE. — Respecting  the  Dismission  of  a  Pastor. 

In  the  minutes  of  the  stated  and  adjourned 
meetings  the  subject  of  the  dismission  of  a 
pastor  has  been  treated  in  exact  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  the  "Form  of  Govern- 
ment/' 

In  the  minutes  of  the  special  meeting  we 
have  introduced  the  matter  in  conformity  with 
what  is  now  the  more  general  custom.  When 
a  minister  has  decided  to  leave  his  congrega- 
tion for  some  other  field  of  labor,  it  is  custom- 
ary for  him  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  congrega- 
tion, and  to  request  it  to  unite  with  him  in 
requesting  the  Presbytery  to  dissolve  the  pas- 
toral relation.  Of  this  meeting  and  its  action 
report  is  made  by  its  commissioners  to  the 
Presbytery,  and  that  body  then  proceeds  to 
act  upon  the  application  without  delay. 

That  this  custom  has  its  advantages,  is  not 
denied ;  chief  among  which  are: — 1.  The  saving 
of  time  to  the  Presbytery;  which,  according 
to  the  method  in  the  "Book,"  must  hold  an 
adjourned  meeting,  -having,  it  may  be,  this 
request  as  its  only  business;  and,  2.  Abbre- 
viating, possibly,  the  period  during  which  a 
congregation  may  be  held  in  suspense,  if  not 
in  anxiety,  on  the  subject  of  its  pastor's 
resignation. 

But  it  is  a  serious  question,  whether  this 


56  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

compendious  method  may  not  have  been  pro- 
ductive of  evil  quite  as  much  as  of  good : — 
whether,  by  reason  of  the  facility  with  which 
it  disposes  of  the  pastoral  tie,  it  may  not  have 
exerted  a  real  and  not  inconsiderable  influence 
in  rendering  the  connection  so  unstable,  that 
in  many  sections  of  the  Church  the  office  of 
pastor  has  fallen  into  disuse  to  an  alarming 
degree.  Other  causes  have,  indeed,  existed; 
causes  which,  in  many  instances,  have  been 
more  obvious.  Still,  the  inquiry  is  submitted, 
whether  many  pastors  have  not  been  dismissed 
because  it  was  so  easy  to  dissolve  the  relation, 
who,  had  the  mode  prescribed  in  the  "Book" 
been  the  only  one  by  which  they  could  have 
disengaged  themselves,  would  have  remained 
at  the  post  of  duty,  and  lived  down  and 
labored  down  the  difficulties  which  for  a  season 
might  have  disturbed  their  peace. 


Iterator  f0r  %  (Ming  01  a 
Special  llceting  0f  %  frtsbfitorg. 

To  the  Eev.  A.  B., 

Moderator  of  the  Presbytery  of  H. 
REV.  AND  DEAR  SIR  : — 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
"  Form  of  Government,"  chap.  x.  sec.  x.,  you 
are  hereby  requested  to  call  a  special  meeting 


THE  MODERATOR'S  CIRCULAR.  57 

of  the  said  Presbytery,  to  be  holden  in  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  B.,  on  Thursday,  the 
15th  day  of  February  next,  at  eleven  o'clock, 
A.M.,  for  the  purpose  of  considering,  and — if  the 
way  shall  be  prepared — of  issuing,  the  follow- 
ing matters  of  business,  namely :  — 

I.  An  application  from  the  Eev.  C.  M.  for 
leave  to  resign  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation in  E.,  together  with  the  action  of  the 
said  congregation  thereupon. 

II.  The  request  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  M.  for  a  dis- 
mission  from   this   Presbyter}^  and  a  recom- 
mendation to  the  Presbytery  of  !N". 

III.  An  application  from  Mr.  J.  IS".,  a  licen- 
tiate of  the  Presbytery  of  B.,  to  be  received 
under  the  care  of  this  Presbytery. 

IV.  The  joint  application  of  Mr.  1ST.  and  the 
session   of  the    church    in   J.,  requesting   the 
Presbytery  to  ordain  him  as  an  evangelist. — • 
if  the  way  shall  be  prepared, — with  a  view  to 
his  taking  charge  of  said  church,  as  its  stated 
supply. 

We  are,  Eev.  and  dear  sir, 
Very  respectfully, 

Your  brethren  and  friends, 
(Signed)      E.  A. 
D.  P. 

J.  H.,  Elder  of  the  Church  in  J. 
W  T.,  Elder  of  the  Church  in  B. 

January  29,  18 — . 


58  THE    PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 


fMtrator's  fetter,  railing  a  Special 
at 


CIRCULAR  LETTER. 

B  -  ,  January  31,  18  —  . 

Application  having  been  made  to  me,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  provisions  of  the  "  Form  of 
Government,"  chap.  x.  sec.  x.,  a  special  meet- 
ing of  the  Presbytery  of  II.  will  be  h  olden, 
(D.  V.,)  in  the  Presbyterian  church  in  B.,  on 
Thursday,  the  15th  day  of  February  next,  at 
eleven  o'clock,  A.M.,  for  the.  purpose  of  con- 
sidering, and  —  if  the  way  shall  be  prepared  — 
of  issuing,  the  following  matters  of  business, 
namely  :  — 

[Hero  specify  distinctly  every  item  of  the  business  \vhich  is 
to  be  presented  for  the  action  of  the  Presbytery,  as  in  the  fore- 
going application  to  the  Moderator.] 

(Signed)  A.  B.,  Moderator. 

[Annexed  to  the  circular  should  be  the  following  invita- 
tions :  — 

To  a  Pastor,  or  a  Stated  Supply.] 

To  the  Eev.  B.  A. 

BEV.  AND  DEAR  BROTHER:  — 

You  are  hereby  notified  of  the  special  meet- 
ing of  the  Presbytery  of  H.,  —  as  above  called, 
—and  requested  to  attend  the  same,  accom- 


ORGANIZATION    OF  A    CHURCH.  59 

panied  by  the  representative  of  the  Session  of 
the  church  in  C. 

Yours,  fraternally, 

A.  B.,  Moderator. 

B ,  Jauuary  31,  18 — . 

[To  the  Session  of  a  Vacant  Church.] 

To  the  Session  of  the  Church  in  J. 
DEAR  BRETHREN  : — 

You  are  hereby  notified  of  the  special  meet- 
ing of  the  Piv>l>yU'ry  <>i  JI.. — as  above  called, 

— and  ivqiu  atu-nd   the  same,  by  your 

itativc. 

Yours,  fraternally, 

A.  i;..  .Moderator. 

-,  January  31, 18 — . 


(Organisation  0f  a  Ourrjj. 

[When  a  number  of  individuals,  with  their  families,  desire 
to  be  formed  into  a  church,  after  full  consultation  and  agree- 
ment among  themselves,  they  should  send  a  delegation,  of  two 
or  more  of  their  number,  to  apply  to  the  Presbytery,  within 
whose  bounds  they  reside,  for  direction  and  counsel  in  effecting 
their  organization.  Of  this  application  of  the  delegates,  and 
of  the  action  of  the  Presbytery  thereupon,  the  following  record 
may  be  made  in  the  minutes : — ] 

Messrs.  B.  A.  and  J.  C.  appeared  before  the 
Presbytery  as  a  delegation  from  a  number  of 


60  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

individuals  residing  in  O.,  who  desire  to  bo 
organized,  with  their  families,  into  a  Presby- 
terian church  in  connection  with  this  Presby- 
tery, and  requested  that  all  the  measures 
necessary  to  effect  this  object  may  be  taken 
by  the  Presbytery  without  unnecessary  delay. 

The  delegates  were  then  heard  in  an  ex- 
tended statement  respecting  the  number  and 
circumstances  of  the  applicants,  and  the  pros- 
pective support  and  increase  of  a  Presbyterian 
church  in  O.  and  its  vicinity. 

After  a  free  conversation  with  the  dele- 
gates,— and 

In  view  of  all  the  information  that  was 
elicited, — 

The  Presbytery  appointed  a  commission, 
consisting  of  the  Eev.  Messrs.  A.  B.  and  C.  D., 
and  Mr.  E.  F.,  elder,  to  meet  at  O.,  on  Tues- 
day, the day  of next,  at  two  o'clock, 

P.M.,  to  confer  with  the  applicants,  and  with 
others  interested,  and  to  make  all  necessary  in- 
vestigations, and — if  the  way  shall  be  pre- 
pared—  to  proceed  to  the  organization  of  a 
Presbyterian  church,  according  to  the  request 
to  that  effect  which  has  been  presented  by  the 
delegation. 

The  delegates  from  O.  were  requested  to 
make  all  the  arrangements  for  the  meeting  of 
the  commission  which  may  be  necessary;  and, 


ORGANIZATION   OF  A   CHURCH.  61 

particularly,  to  represent  to  the  applicants  the 
great  importance  of  obtaining  immediately, 
from  the  churches  with  which  they  are  seve- 
rally connected,  certificates  of  dismission,  re- 
commending them  to  the  Presbyterian  church 
about  to  be  organized. 

[At  the  time  appointed,  the  commission  should  seek  all  the 
information  necessary  to  a  judicious  decision  of  the  question 
intrusted  to  it.  If  the  way  shall  seem  to  be  prepared  for  or- 
ganizing a  church  at  that  time,  the  commission  should  proceed 
to  receive  the  certificates  of  the  applicants,  and  to  examine 
such  as  may  desire  to  make,  on  this  occasion,  their  public  pro- 
fession  of  religion. 

The  names  of  all  whose  certificates,  or  examination,  are 
approved,  having  been  enrolled,  a  private  meeting  should  be 
holden  in  some  suitable  place,  at  which  the  commission  may 
confer  freely  with  the  applicants,  giving  them  such  advice 
as  their  circumstances  may  seem  to  require;  proposing  to 
them  a  form  of  a  confession  of  faith  and  covenant  for  the 
adoption  and  use  of  the  church  to  be  organized;  and  making 
all  necessary  arrangements  for  the  public  services  of  the 
organization  of  the  church.  At  this  private  meeting  the  ruling 
elders  and  deacons  should  be  informally  chosen,  so  that  there 
may  be  no  delay  at  the  public  services.  It  should  also  be  ar- 
ranged that  all  the  persons  to  be  received  into  the  new  church 
shall  be  seated  together  at  the  organization  service. 

When  the  time  for  the  public  services  shall  have  arrived,  it 
is  proper  that  one  of  the  members  of  the  commission  should 
preach  a  sermon  adapted  to  the  occasion.  After  which,  the 
chairman  should  state  to  the  audience  the  several  steps  which 
have  been  taken,  and  the  nature  of  the  duty  about  to  be  per- 
formed. He  should  then  read  from  the  register  the  names  of 
the  persons  who  are  to  be  organized  into  a  church,  mentioning 
the  churnh  by  which  each  one  has  been  recommended,  and 
6 


62  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

indicating  those  who  are  to  be  received  on  the  profession  of 
their  faith.  Then,  calling  upon  the  whole  company  to  arise,  he 
should  read  to  them  the  Confession  of  Faith,  requiring  from 
each  individual  some  distinct  token  of  adoption, — either  by 
the  voice,  or  by  raising  the  hand,  or  by  an  inclination  of  the 
head.  If  any  of  the  new  professors  are  to  be  baptized,  that 
sacrament  should  now  be  administered.  The  chairman  should 
then  read  the  covenant,  and,  all  having  given  their  assent 
thereto,  as  before  to  the  Confession,  he  should  solemnly  ad- 
dress himself  to  the  company,  in  the  following,  or  like  words, — 
his  colleagues  now  standing  by  his  side : — ] 

Having  received  from  you  this  confession  of 
your  faith,  and  your  public  assent  to  this  cove- 
nant, \ve,  constituting  the  commission  of  the 
Presbytery  of  H.,  and  for  this  purpose  repre- 
senting it  here,  do,  in  the  name  and  on  behalf 
of  the  said  Presbytery,  and  in  the  name  and 
by  the  authority  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the 
ever-living  Head  of  the  Church  on  earth  and 
in  heaven,  pronounce  and  declare  that  you  are 
this  day  regularly  organized  and  established 
as  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  O.,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  order  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  these  United  States : — and  may  the 
blessing  of  Almighty  God,  the  Father,  the  Son, 
and  the  Holy  Ghost,  descend  upon  and  abide 
with  you  and  your  children  from  this  day  forth, 
to  establish  and  strengthen  you,  to  comfort  and 
guide  you,  and  to  conduct  yon  at  last  to  the 
General  Assembly  and  Church  of  the  First- 


ORGANIZATION   OF  A   CHURCH. 

born,  in  his  own  glorious  tempi 
Amen.  ,. 

\  ^» 

[The   members  of  the  new  church  being  ag^fc  s%atcd^ 
chairman  should  say, — ] 

The  following  persons,  having  been  in 
ally  chosen  to  the  offices  of  ruling  elder  and 
deacon  in  this  church,  are  now  to  be  con- 
sidered as  properly  nominated  for  election  by 
the  church,  if  so  it  shall  please.  Listen  to 
th</ir  names: — Messrs.  B.  A.,  D.  C.,  and  F.  E., 
for  the  office  of  ruling  elder;  and  .Messrs.  II.  G. 
and  J.  I.,  for  the  office  of  deacon. 

If  it  is  now  your  free  will  and  desire  that 
these  hivthren,  being,  according  to  the  rule  of 
our  Church,  "all  male  members  in  full  com- 
munion" in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in 
O.,  shall  be  elected  to  the  offices  in  this  church 
to  which  they  have  been  nominated,  you  will 
please  to  "hold  up  the  right  hand  in  testimony 
of  assent/' 

[After  having  received  the  affirmative  vote,  the  chairman 
should  proceed  to  say, — ] 

On  the  other  hand,  if  there  are  any  who  dis- 
sent from  this  election,  let  such  indicate  it  by 
the  same  sign. 

[The  vote  having  been  declared,  let  the  elders  elect  be  called 
forth  before  the  assembly,  and  let  the  questions  prescribed  in 


64  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

the  "Form  of  Government/'  chap.  xiii.  sec.  iv.,  be  put  to  them 
and  to  the  church.  In  the  same  manner  let  the  deacons  elect 
be  called  forth, — the  elders  still  continuing  to  stand, — and,  the 
appointed  questions  having  been  put  and  answered  affirma- 
tively, let  the  new  officers  be  solemnly  set  apart  to  their  re- 
spective offices  by  prayer  and  the  laying  on  of  hands. 

If  either  of  the  elders  or  deacons  has  formerly  been  or- 
dained to  the  office  to  which  he  is  now  elected  in  the  new 
church,  only  the  fourth  and  fifth  of  the  prescribed  questions 
should  be  proposed  to  him,  inasmuch  as  to  him  the  service  is 
not  ordination,  but  only  installation  into  that  particular 
charge. 

The  church  having  now  been  organized,  and  its  officers  or- 
dained and  installed,  an  affectionate  charge  and  exhortation 
should  be  addressed  to  it  by  one  of  the  members  of  the  com- 
mission ;  after  which,  let  it,  with  all  its  interests,  be  solemnly 
commended  to  God  in  prayer. 

It  will  be  very  appropriate,  if  time  and  other  circumstances 
will  permit,  for  the  commission,  after  a  recess,  if  required  on 
account  of  the  length  of  the  preceding  services,  to  administer 
to  the  new  church  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  But 
if  this  may  not  be  done  by  the  commission,  the  elders  should 
make  arrangements  for  the  celebration  of  that  sacrament  on 
the  earliest  Sabbath  on  which  they  can  secure  the  presence  of 
one  of  the  ministers  of  the  Presbytery. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  the  commission 
should  present  a  report  of  its  doings,  of  which,  unless  it  shall 
be  deemed  important  to  prepare  a  more  extended  report,  the 
following  notice  may  be  taken  in  the  minutes : — ] 

The  commission  which  was  appointed  at  the 
last  stated  meeting  to  organize  a  church  in 
our  connection  at  O.,  if  the  way  should  be  pre- 
pared, reported  that  it  had  performed  the  duty 
assigned  to  it;  that  the  new  church  had  been 


ORGANIZATION    OF  A   CHURCH.  65 

organized  with  members,  of  whom  

were     received     on     certificates    from    other 

churches,  and on  the  profession  of  their 

faith;  and  that  three  ruling  elders  and  two 
deacons  had  been  elected  and  ordained,  or  in- 
stalled; of  whom  Mr.  A.  B.  is  now  present  as 
the  representative  of  that  Session. 

The  report  of  the  commission  was  accepted. 

Mr.  B.  A.,  a  ruling  elder  from'  the  church  in 
O.,  then  requested  that  the  church  which  ho 
represents  should  bo  taken  under  the  care  of 
this  Presbytery;  and  that,  as  its  representa- 
tive, ho  may  be  recognised  in  the  present 
sessions. 

Whereupon,  it  was 

Resolved,  1.  That  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  in  O.  be,  and  it  hereby  is,  received 
under  the  care  of  this  Presbytery,  according 
to  its  request,  and  that  its  name  be  now  en- 
tered upon  the  roll  of  our  churches. 

2.  That  Mr.  B.  A.,  a  ruling  elder  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  O.,  bo  received  as  its 
representative;  and  that,  as  such,  he  is  en- 
titled to  a  seat  in  this  house  as  a  member  of 
this  judicatory. 

6« 


66  THE    PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 


[It  does  not  pertain  to  the  scope  of  the  present  work  to  dis- 
cuss the  various  questions  that  have  arisen  in  regard  to  the 
manner  in  which  offences  are  to  be  brought  to  the  cognizance 
of  a  Judicatory, — whether  by  an  individual  accuser,  or  on  the 
ground  of  "general  rumor"  or  "common  fame."  Our  "Book 
of  Discipline"  allows  of  both  modes,  and  is  sufficiently  dis- 
criminating in  regard  to  the  circumstances  in  which  each  is 
appropriate.  It  is  our  duty,  therefore,  to  furnish  the  necessary 
"forms"  required  by  the  "Process"  according  to  each  mode. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  remark  that,  the  principles  of  our 
"  Discipline"  being  the  same  whatever  the  Judicatory  before 
which  the  "Process"  is  conducted,  the  "forms"  which  we  shall 
give  are  equally  applicable,  mutatis  mutandis,  to  the  Session 
and  to  the  Presbytery. 

We  begin  with  a  case  before  the  Session,  and  of  a  kind  to  be 
recognized  on  the  ground  of 

"Common  Fame." 

The  first  notice  of  the  case  may  appear  upon  the  records  in 
the  following  form,  namely  : — ] 

The  Session,  having  been  informed  that 
rumors  are  in  circulation  seriously  affecting 
the  Christian  reputation  of  one  of  the  mem- 
bers of  this  church,  appointed  Mr.  B.  a  com- 
mittee tu  investigate  the  matter,  and,  if  he 
shall  find  "probable  ground  of  accusation,"  to 
prepare  the  charge  in  proper  form,  and  to 
report  at  the  next  meeting. 

[The  name  of  the  offender  is  not  mentioned  in  this  minute, 
for  prudential  reasons.  If  the  rumor  is  so  clamorous  as  to 


DISCIPLINE.  67 

make  it  necessary  to  insert  the  name  in  the  first  notice  of  the 
case,  the  phrase  "one  of  the  members"  may  be  replaced  by 
"J.  B.  G.,  a  member,"  <fec.  But  it  is  better,  if  possible,  to 
suppress  the  name  until  it  shall  have  become  evident  that  a 
judicial  investigation  cannot  be  avoided. 

At  the  next  meeting,  if  the  committee  shall  report  that  he  i| 
satisfied  that  the  rumors  are  without  foundation,  the  record  may 
be  made  in  the  words  following,  namely : — ] 

The  committee  appointed  at  the  last  meet- 
ing of  the  Session  to  investigate  the  rumors 
concerning  one  of  the  members  of  this  church, 
reported  that  he  has  discharged  the  duty 
assigned  to  him,  and  is  satisfied  that  the 
reports  affecting  the  reputation  of  our  Chris- 
tian brother  are  altogether  without  foundation 
in  truth,  and  had  their  origin  in  the  personal 
malice  of  an  unworthy  individual. 

This  report  having  been  sustained,  by  a 
statement  of  facts,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
Session,  it  \v 

Resolved,  That  the  report  be  accepted,  and 
that  no  further  notice  bo  taken  of  the  matter. 

[If  the  committee  believes  the  rumors  to  be  true,  but  not 
MI-H  rptible  of  clear  and  decisive  proof  at  present,  the  record 
should  be : — ] 

The  committee  appointed  at  the  last  meet- 
ing of  the  Session  to  investigate  the  rumors 
concerning  one  of  them  embers  of  this  church, 
reported  that  he  has  discharged  the  duty 
assigned  to  him,  and  is  satisfied  that  the 


68  THE    PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

reports  affecting  the  Christian  reputation  of 
the  individual  in  question  are  well  founded, 
At  the  same  time,  he  is  convinced  that  tho 
offence,  in  the  language  of  the  "  Book  of  Dis- 
cipline," chap.  iii.  sec.  iii.,  is  "so  circumstanced 
that  it  plainly  cannot  be  prosecuted  to  convic- 
tion" by  any  testimony  at  present  within  the 
command  of  the  Session. 

This  report  having  been  sustained,  by  a  state- 
ment of  facts,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Session, 

It  was  Resolvedj 

1.  That  the  report  of  the  committee  be  ac- 
cepted. 

2.  That  it  appears  to  be  evident  that  the 
case  is  one  of  the  class  intended  in  the  section 
of  the  "Book  of  Discipline"  referred  to  by  the 
committee;   and   that,  " however    grievous   it 
may  be  to  the  pious  to  see  an  unworthy  mem- 
ber in  the  church,  it  is  proper  to  wait  until 
God,  in  his  righteous   providence,  shall   give 
further  light." 

[If  at  a  subsequent   time   it  shall    appear   that  "sufficient 
proof"  of  the  offence  can  be  obtained,  a  case  disposed  of  as  in 
the    preceding    minute    may  be    reopened    in    the    following 
%  form :— ] 

The  Session,  having  been  informed  that  the 
rumors  affecting  the  Christian  reputation  of 
the  member  of  this  church,  referred  to  in  tho 
minutes  on  pages  69, 70,  and  71  of  these  records, 


DISCIPLINE.  69 

continue  still  to  circulate  to  the  injury  of  reli- 
gion, and  that  "sufficient  proof"  of  the  offence 
can  now  be  obtained,  appointed  Mr.  B.  a  com- 
mittee to  re-invoti^aU'  the  matter,  and,  if  he 
shall  find  "probable  ground  of  accusation,"  to 
prepare  the  charge  in  proper  form,  and  to  re- 
port at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Session. 

[If  the  committee  shall  be  convinced  that  the  case  is  one 
requiring  the  immediate  exercise  of  discipline,  the  following 
form  should  be  adopted  for  the  minute,  uumely : — ] 

Tlie  committee  appointed  at  the  last  meet- 
ing of  the  Session  to  investigate  [or,  to  re-in- 
voii-'ate]  the  rumors  concerning  one  of  the 
members  of  this  chureh.  reported  that,  in  the 
i  a  rue  of  the  duty  assigned  to  him,  it  be- 
came apparent  that  the  case  is  one  which 
requires  the  interposition  of  the  Session;  that 
he  is  satisfied  that  there  is  "probable  ground 
of  accusation;"  and  that,  in  obedience  to  the 
:  of  the  Session,  ho  has  prepared  'ho 
following 

CHAEGE. 

Common  fame  charges  J.  B.  G.,  a  member 
of  this  church,  with  the  sin  of  intemperance,  to 
the  manifest  injury  of  his  own  Christian  stand- 
ing and  reputation,  and  to  the  flagrant  re- 
proach of  the  Church  of  Christ, — as  set  forth 
in  the  following  specifications,  namely: — 


70  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

Specification  First. 

In  this,  that,  on  or  about  the  15th  day  of 
the  month  of  April  last,  at  the  time  of  the" 
auction-sale  on  the  premises  of  D.  C.,  the  said 
J.  B.  G.,  then  being  present  at  the  said  auction, 
did  so  conduct  himself  as  to  attract  the  atten- 
tion and  remark  of  many  individuals,  and,  by 
his  boisterous  and  silly  conversation  and  un- 
seemly actions,  did  lead  the  bystanders  to 
believe  that  he  was  under  the  influence  and 
control  of  intoxicating  liquor;  the  more  espe- 
cially as  he  was  seen  in  several  instances  to 
indulge  in  drinking  liquors  of  this  description. 

Specification  Second. 

In  this,  that,  on  or  about  the  1st  day  of  tho 
month  of  May  last,  the  said  J.  B.  G.,  then  being 
at  the  public  house  of  J.  B.,  in  this  town,  did 
frequently  indulge  in  drinking  intoxicating 
liquors,  and  did  exhibit  various  symptoms  of 
his  having  drank  to  excess. 

Specification  Third. 

In  this,  that,  on  or  about  the  10th  day  of  the 
month  of  June  last,  the  said  J.  B.  G.,  then  being 
upon  the  public  highway  between  the  public 
house  of  J.  E.  aforesaid  and  his  own  dwelling, 
and  going  in  the  direction  towards  the  latter 


DISCIPLINE.  71 

place,  when  near  the  house  of  R.  S.,  was  seen 
to  stagger  in  his  walk,  and  in  other  respecta 
to  make  it  evident  that  he  was  under  the  in- 
fluonce  and  control  of  intoxicating  liquors. 

Specification  Fourth. 

In  this,  that,  on  or  about  the  4th  day  of  the 
month  of  July  last,  the  said  J.  B.  G.,  then  being 
upon  the  public  square  in  this  village,  during 
llu  time  of  the  Annual  Celebration  of  "Inde- 
pendence Day."  was  seen  to  exhibit  many 
tokens  of  his  being  in  a  state  of  intoxication, 
particularly  in  his  gait,  in  the  indecent  ex- 
posure of  his  person,  in  the  foul  and  abusive 
language  with  which  he  replied  to  one  who 
kindly  expostulated  with  him  in  regard  to  his 
condition  and  deportment,  and  in  his  efforts  to 
inflict  bodily  injury  upon  certain  individuals 
who  made  a  friendly  attempt  to  withdraw  him 
from  public  observation. 

The  foregoing  charge,  with  its  specifica- 
tions, may  be  proved  by  the  testimony  of  the 
following  witnesses,  namely:* — 

*  If  it  is  preferred,  the  names  of  the  witnesses  may  be  attached 
to  each  specification.  When  there  are  two  or  more  cAan/et,  it 
is  better  that  the  witnesses  relied  upon  to  prove  each  separate 
charge  should  be  named  at  the  close  of  the  specifications  under 
that  charge. 


72  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

JVlr.  B.  A.  Mrs.  E.  S. 

"    D.  C.  «     C.  R 

"    F.  E.  Miss  H.  S. 

"    E.  S.  Mr.  C.  II. 

"    T.  W.  "    G.  T. 

Mr.  TV.  E. 

The  report  of  the  committee  was  accepted; 
And  it  was  Resolved, 

1.  That   the   Session   will  proceed   without 
delay  to  a  judicial  investigation  of  the  case 
as  presented  in  the  charge  and  specifications 
reported  by  the  committee. 

2.  That  when  the  Session  shall  adjourn,  it 
will  adjourn  to  meet  in  the  lecture-room,  on 

Tuesday,  the  day  of inst.,  at  two 

o'clock,  P.M.;  and 

The  clerk  was  directed  to  cite  the  accused  to 
appear  before  the  Session,  at  that  time  and 
place. 

Mr.  B.  was  appointed  the  "Committee  of 
Prosecution,"  to  "  conduct  the  whole  cause  on 
the  part  of  the  prosecution." 

[The  "Book  of  Discipline"  directs  that  "no  more  shall  be 
done  at  the  first  meeting,  unless  by  consent  of  parties,  than  to 
give  the  accused  a  copy  of  each  charge,  with  the  names  of  the 
witnesses  to  support  it;  and  to  cite  all  concerned  to  appear  at 
the  next  meeting,  Ac." 

If  the  accused  person  is  present  at  the  meeting  at  which  the 
accusation  is  allowed,  a  copy  of  the  charges  may  be  "given"  to 
him,  and  all  the  parties  may  be  cited,  as  in  the  case  before  a 


DISCIPLINE.  73 

Presbytery,  hereafter  presented.  (See  p.  86.)  But  if  be  is 
absent,  as  is  generally  tbe  case  when  a  private  member  of  the 
church  is  accused  before  the  Session,  it  seems  to  be  required  by 
the  "  Book"  that  a  "first  meeting"  should  be  had,  at  which  the 
accused  may  come  before  the  Judicatory,  and  be  furnished 
with  the  charges,  Ac.,  prior  to  the  one  at  which  he  and  the 
witnesses  are  to  appear,  for  the  purpose  of  proceeding  to  the 
trial. 

Attention  to  this  matter  would  prevent  the  summoning  of  the 
witnesses  to  attend  a  meeting  at  which  they  cannot  be  exa- 
mined, unle-s  the  accused  shall  consent  to  waive  his  privilege 
of  delay,  and  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  trial, — a  waiver  \vhi.-h 
the  Judicatory  has  no  right  to  anticipate.  It  would  also  prove 
the  means  of  saving  much  time,  which  in  so  many  cases  is 
consumed,  at  the  commencement  of  "actual  process,"  in  th« 
discussion  of  this  very  question — which  is  to  be  considered  as 
the  "first  meeting,"  as  intended  by  the  "Book." 

At  the  "first  meeting,"  as  appointed  in  the  preceding 
minutes,  if  the  accused  person  is  present,  let  the  following 
record  bo  made : — ] 

The  unfinished  business  of  the  last  meeting, 
namely,  The  charge  which  was  tabled,  on  tho 
ground  of  common  fame,  against  J.  B.  G.,  a 
member  of  this  church,  was  taken  up,  and, 
Mr.  G.  being  present,  "a  copy  of  the  charge" 
and  its  specifications,  "with  the  names  of 
the  witnesses  to  support  it,"  was  given  to 
him. 

Mr.  G.  requested  that  Mr.  H.,  one  of  the  mem- 
bers of  this  Session,  may  be  assigned  to  him  as 
counsel,  to   aid   him   in   the   preparation   and 
exhibition  of  his  defence. 
7 


74  THE   PRESBYTERIAN   MANUAL. 

The  request  was  granted;  and  Mr.  H.  was 
accordingly  appointed  to  that  service.* 
It  was  then  Ordered, 

1.  That  "all  concerned"  be  cited  "to  appear 
•at  the  next  meeting"  of  the  Session,  "to  have 
the  matter  fully  heard  and  decided." 

2.  That  when  the  Session  shall  adjourn,  it 
will  adjourn  to  meet  in  this  place,  on  Tuesday, 
the day  of ,  at  two  o'clock,  P.M. 

3.  That  the  clerk  issue  written  citations  to 
the  accused  party,  and  to  the  witnesses  named 
in  the  charge  against  him,  to  appear  before 
the  Session  at  the  time  and  place  appointed  in 
the  preceding  order;  and  that  he  also  furnish 
the  .accused  with  citations  for  such  witnesses 
as  he  may  desire  to  summon  to  testify  in  his 
behalf. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  after  the  routine  business  is  com- 
•pleted,  let  the  record  proceed : — ] 

It  having  been  ascertained  that  the  citations 
ordered  at  the  last  meeting  "have  been  duly 


*  Although  the  language  of  the  "Book  of  Discipline/'  chap, 
iv.  sec.  xxi.,  implies  that  an  accused  person  may,  even  without 
obtaining  the  consent  of  the  Judicatory,  request  one  of  its 
members  to  act  as  his  counsel,  yet  custom  and  a  decent  respect 
for  the  Judicatory  require  that  the  appointment  should  be  re- 
quested as  in  the  text. 


DISCIPLINE.  75 

served  on  the  persons  for  whom  they  were  in- 
tended/' and 

Mr.  J.  B.  G.,  the  accused  person,  and  Mr.  B., 
the  "Committee  of  Prosecution,"  being  present, 
and 

Both  parties  having  declared  that  they  were 
ready  for  trial, 

The  Session  proceeded  to  the  investigation 
of  the  "  business  assigned  for  trial." 

The  Moderator  "solemnly  announced  from 
the  chair,  that  the  body  is  about  to  pass  to  the 
consideration  of  the  business  assigned  for  trial; 
and  enjoined  on  the  members  to  recollect  and 
regard  their  high  character,  as  judges  of  a 
court  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  solemn  duty  in 
which  they  are  about  to  act." 

The  charge,  with  its  specifications,  as  re- 
corded on  page  69  of  these  minutes,  was  then 
read  to  the  accused  party,  and 

He  was  "called  upon  to  say  whether  he  is 
guilty  or  not"  of  the  things  charged  against 
him. 

Whereupon 

The  accused  made  answer,  "I  am  not 
guilty." 

The  "  Committee  of  Prosecution"  then  ad- 
dressed the  Indicatory,  presenting  his  view  of 
the  case  committed  to  him,  and  stating  the 
points  which  he  expects  to  prove  by  tho  wit- 


76  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

nesses,  whose  names  are  annexed  to  the  chargo 
and  specifications.* 

After  which 

He  proceeded  to  call  the  witnesses. 

The  Moderator  now  stated  that,  according 
to  the  "Book  of  Discipline/'  chapter  vi.  sec- 
tion vii.,  uKo  witness  afterward  to  be  exa- 
mined, except  a  member  of  the  Indicatory,  shall 
be  present  during  the  examination  of  another 
witness  on  the  same  case,  unless  by  consent  of 
parties." 

Mr.  II.,  the  counsel  for  the  accused,  insisted 
on  the  exclusion  of  the  witnesses,  according  to 
the  rule;  and 

It  was  Ordered  accordingly. 

Mr.  B.  then  introduced  the  first  witness  for 
the  prosecution, 

Mr.  B.  A.,  who  was  sworn  by  the  Moderator, 
and  testified  as  follows: — 

[According  to  section  xvii.  of  the  chapter  "Of  Witnesses/' 
"the  testimony  given  by  witnesses  must  be  faithfully  recorded, 
and  read  to  them,  for  their  approbation  or  subscription  j"  and, 
according  to  section  x.  of  the  same  chapter,  "every  question 


*  As  the  "  Book  of  Discipline"  does  not  prescribe  the  form 
of  proceeding  in  its  details,  it  must  be  left  to  the  judgment  of 
the  Committee  of  Prosecution,  under  leave  of  the  Judicatory, 
whether  he  will  "  open'*  the  case  by  a  statement  of  what  he 
expects  to  prove,  or  proceed  at  once  to  the  examination  of  the 
witnesses. 


DISCIPLINE.  77 

tmt  to  a  witness  shall,  if  required,  be  redu^cl  to  \rriting.  When 
answered,  it  shall,  together  with  the  answer,  bo  recorded,  if 
deemed  by  either  party  of  sufficient  importance." 

The  testimony  may  be  entered  upon  the  records  with  the 
<ninutes,  or,  as  is  more  frequently  done,  it  may  be  recorded  sepa 
rately,  and  be  preserved  "  on  file." 

At  the  close  of  the  testimony  of  each  witness,  it  should  be 
disuuctly  stated  that] 

The  testimony  was  read  to  the  witness,  and 
approved  by  him  as  being  correctly  recorded. 

[When  all  the  testimony,  for  the  prosecution  and  for  tho 
defence,  shall  have  been  received,  the  record  should  proceed, 
as  follows  : — ] 

The  witnesses  having  all'  been  examined, 

The  parties  were  heard  in  their  explanations 
of  the  testimony,  and  in  their  comments  upon 
it. 

After  they  had  concluded,  and  hud  with- 
drawn from  the  house,* 

The  roll  was  called,  that  every  member  of 
the  Judicatory  might  "  have  an  opportunity  to 
express  his  opinion  on  the  case." 

After  which, 

The  final  vote  was  taken,  and 

#  Although  there  is  no  express  rule  which  requires  that  tho 
parties  in  an  original  trial  shall  withdraw  from  the  house  at 
this  stage  of  the  proceedings,  the  principle  is  the  same,  and  the 
necessity  quite  as  imperative,  as  in  the  case  of  an  appeal, 
in  which  the  "Book"  expressly  requires  all  parties  to  with- 
draw. 

7* 


78  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

The  charge,  with  its  specifications,  was 
holden  to  be  proved. 

Whereupon 

The  following  minute  was  unanimously 
adopted : — 

The  Session,  having  deliberately  considered 
the  testimony  in  the  case  of  J.  B.  G.7  a  member 
of  this  church,  charged  by  common  fame  with 
the  sin  of  intemperance,  as  in  sundry  specifica- 
tions set  forth,  and  having  patiently  listened 
to  the  arguments  and  explanations  which  have 
been  offered,  as  well  by  the  accused  as  by  the 
Committee  of  Prosecution,  does  judge  and 
decide  that  the  charge  has  been  proved,  and 
that  the  said  J.  B.  G.  is  guilty  of  the  sin  of 
intemperance  charged  upon  him. 

And  the  Session  does  further  judge  and  de- 
termine that  the  said  J.  B.  G.  ought  to  be,  ana 
lie  hereby  is,  suspended  from  the  communion 
of  the  church,  until  he  shall  give  satisfactory 
evidence  of  repentance. 

Mr.  G.  was  then  called  in,  and 

The  Moderator,  in  accordance  with  the  "Di- 
rectory for  Worship/'  chapter  x.  section  iii., 
pronounced  upon  him  the  sentence  of  the 
Judicatory. 

After  which, 

Mr.  G.  gave  notice  of  his  intention  to  appeal 
from  this  decision  of  the  Session  to  the  PreSr 


DISCIPLINE.  79 

bytery  of  H.  at  its  next  meeting,  and  stated 
that  a  copy  of  his  appeal,  with  the  reasons  for 
the  same,  should  be  "  lodged  with  the  Mode- 
rator" "within  ten  days/'* 

The  following  minute  was  then  adopted : — 

In  view  of  the  publicity  of  the  offence  of 
which  J".  E.  G..  one  of  the  members  of  this 
church,  has  been  proved  to  be  guilty,  and  of 
the  great  reproach  which  has  been  brought  by 
it  upon  the  Church  of  Christ, 

The  Session  judges,  that  fidelity  to  the  in- 
terests of  religion  renders  it  highly  proper  and 
important  that  the  above  sentence  should  bo 
made  public;  and 

The  Moderator  was  requested  to  publish  tho 
same  from  the  pulpit. 

[Tho  "Book  of  Discipline,"  chap.  iv.  sec.  ix.,  seems  to  con- 
template a  class  of  offences  in  which  more  private  means  may 
be  resorted  to  for  removing  the  scandal.  This  class  may  consist 
of  offences  of  less  heinous  character,  or  of  such  as,  while  they 
aro  less  extensively  known,  still  do  not  properly  come  under 
the  designation  of  "private  offences." 


*  This  notice  of  an  appeal  is  inserted  for  the  purpose  of 
ex^  ibiting  the  proper  form  for  the  minute,  ani  the  appropriate 
tiD'3  for  giving  the  notice;  although  in  a  case  like  the  one 
su)  posed  there  is  little  probability  of  an  appeal  being  taken. 
If  an  appeal  in  taken,  the  minute  which  follows  in  the  text 
Du^ht  not  to  be  adopted  until  the  appeal  shall  have  been 
dei  ided  in  favor  of  the  Judicatory.  See  "  Book  of  Discipline/' 
chi-p.  •vii.  sec.  iii.  sub-sec,  xv. 


80  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

The  first  notice  of  such  a  case  may  appear  on  the  records,  aa 
follows  • — ] 

The  Session,  from  information  which  it  hafc 
received,  having  reason  to  fear  that  one  of  tho 
members  of  the  church  has  exhibited  conduct 
unbecoming  the  Christian  profession,  appointed 
Mr.  D.  a  committee  to  visit  him  for  the  pur- 
pose of  conversing  with  him  "in  a  private 
manner/'  and  of  "  endeavoring  to  bring  him  to 
repentance/' 

[At  the  next  meeting,  the  report  of  the  committee,  if  he  has 
been  successful,  may  be  recorded  in  the  following  manner: — ] 

Mr.  D.  reported  that  he  has  visited  the 
brother  to  whom  he  was  sent  by  the  Session, 
and  has  had  free  conversation  with  him  in 
reference  to  the  matter  in  question;  that  he 
acknowledged  the  report  which  the  Session 
has  heard  to  be  true;  that  he  appeared  to  be 
sincerely  penitent  in  view  of  the  injury  which 
his  conduct  has  brought  upon  the  Christian 
name;  and  that  he  declared  his  purpose,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  to  avoid  in  future  whatever 
may  be  inconsistent  with  a  "  conversation  as  it 
becometh  the  gospel  of  Christ." 

The  report  was  accepted;  and  it  was 
Resolved,  That  no  further  notice  be  taken  of 
the  matter. 


DISCIPLINE.  81 

[If  the  committee  shall  not  be  successful  in  these  private 
efforts,  the  report  should  be : — ] 

Mr.  D.  reported  that  he  has  visited  the 
brother  to  whom  he  was  sent  hy  the  Session, 
and  has  conversed  privately  with  him  in  refer- 
ence to  the  matter  in  question,  but  has  entirely 
failed  of  obtaining  any  satisfactory  result.  He 
further  reported  that  he  is  convinced  that  the 
case  is  one  which  requires  judicial  investiga- 
tion, and  that  he  is  satisfied  that  there  is 
"  probable  ground  of  accusation." 

The  report  was  accepted;  and, 

After  full  deliberation, 

Mr.  D.  was  directed  to  prepare  the  charge  in 
proper  form,  and  to  report  the  same  at  the 
next  meeting  of  the  Session. 

[At  the  next  meeting  the  report  of  the  committee  should  be 
entered  upon  the  records,  as  follows : — ] 

Mr.  D.  reported  that,  having  made  further 
efforts,  in  the  case  of  the  brother  to  whom  he 
was  sent,  to  bring  him  to  repentance,  and 
having  altogether  failed  of  success,  in  obedience 
to  the  order  of  the  Session  at  its  last  meeting, 
he  has  prepared  the  charge  against  him  in  the 
following  form,  namely : — - 

CHAEGE. 

Common  fame  charges  P.  J".,  a  member  of 
this  church,  with  unworthy  and  unchristian  con* 


82  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

duct,  as  the  same  is  set  forth  in  the  following 
specifications : — 

Specification  First. 

In  this,  that  the  said  P.  J.  has  been  guilty  of 
breaking  a  matrimonial  engagement;  that  is  to 
say:  In  the  month  of  May  last,  on  or  aboiii 
the  25th  day  of  the  month,  he  entered  into  a 
voluntary  engagement  of  marriage  with  Miss 
E.  E.,  of  II.,  which  engagement  being  still 
undischarged  he  has  violated  and  broken,  by 
becoming  the  married  husband  of  another 
woman. 

Specification  Second. 

In  this,  that  the  said  P.  J.  has  been  guilty  of 
duplicity  in  his  intercourse  with  Miss  E.  E.  afore- 
said; that  is  to  say:  Pending  the  engagement, 
as  declared  in  Specification  First,  and  while 
Miss  E.  w^as  led,  by  his  conversation  and  let- 
ters, to  place  full  reliance  in  his  promise  of 
marriage,  and  to  make  preparation,  on  her 
part,  for  the  solemnization  of  their  marriage, 
he  did,  notwithstanding,  engage  to  marry,  and 
did  actually  marry,  another  woman,  as  stated 
in  Specification  First. 

Specification  Third. 

In  this,  that  the  said  P.  J.  has  been  guilty 
of  wilful  falsehood 'y  that  is  to  say:  Pending 
the  engagement,  as  declared  in  Specification 


DISCIPLINE  83 

First,  and  while  the  said  engagement  was 
freely  and  repeatedly  acknowledged  by  him, 
not  only  to  Miss  E.  herself,  but  also  to  her 
family  and  friends,  he  did,  notwithstanding,  at 
sundry  times,  and  particularly  on  or  about  the 
2d  day  of  June  last,  and  again  on  or  about  the 
15th  day  of  the  same  month  of  June,  delibe- 
rately and  solemnly  deny,  to  one  or  more  indi- 
viduals, that  any  such  engagement  did  exist, 
or  had  existed,  between  himself  and  Miss  E.; 
or  any  other  woman. 

Which  charge,  with  its  specifications,  may 
be  proved  by  the  testimony  of  the  following 
witnesses  and  letters,  namely: — 

Mr.  J.  II.  E.  Miss  E.  E. 

«     A.  D.  G.  "     C.  II.  L. 

"     E.  W.  "    L.  L.  E. 

Mr.  J.'s  letter  to  MissR,  dated  at  E.,  June  6, 18- 

it       a  it         it        tt        it          tt          it     it          it    1  9      a 

*•") 

<•     "         "     "  Mr.L.J.B.,"       "   «       «  15,  « 
The  report  of  the  committee  was  accepted. 

[Then  proceed  as  in  the  former  case.] 

[We  come  now  to  present  the  "  forms"  for  a  case  in  which 
there  is 

An  Individual  Accuser; 

and  we  shall  suppose  it'  to  be  brought  before  a  Prcslytery, 
repeating  the  remark  before  made,  that,  with  the  circumstantial 
alterations  necessary,  the  "forms"  will  be  appropriate  also  to  a 
similar  case  before  a  Session. 


84  THE  PRESBYTERIAN   MANUAL. 

The  individual  bringing  the  accusation  should  present  it  in 
writing,  addressed  to  the  Moderator  of  the  Presbytery;  and  the 
record  should  be  as  follows : — ] 

The  Moderator  informed  the  Presbytery  that 
he  has  received  a  communication  from  the  Eev. 
G.  T.,  a  member  of  this  Presbytery,  [or,  a 
member  of  the  Presbytery  of  J.;  or,  from  Mr. 
G.  T.,  a  member  of  the  church  in  B.,  under  the 
care  of  this  Presbytery,]  accompanied  by  a 
request  that  it  may  be  laid  before  the  J  udica- 
tory,  for  its  consideration. 

The  paper  was  then  read;  and. 

After  full  deliberation,  it  was 

Ordered,  That  it  be  entered  upon  the  minutes. 

The  following  is  the  communication : — 

A — — ,  January  1,  18 — . 

To  the  Rev.  A.  B., 

Moderator  of  the  Presbytery  of  H. 
EEV.  AND  DEAR  SIR  : — 

Permit  me  to  request  that  you  will  lay  be- 
fore the  Presbytery  over  which  you  preside, 
the  following  paper,  for  its  consideration,  and 
for  such  action  in  the  premises  as  the  merits 
of  the  case  may  require. 

It  has  become  my  painful  duty  to  lay  upon 
the  table  of  the  Presbytery  the  accompanying 
charges  affecting  the  Christian  and  ministerial 
standing  of  one  of  the  members  of  this  body. 
This  is  not  a  hasty  procedure.  I  have  endea- 


DISCIPLINE,  85 

vored,  in  the  manner  prescribed  by  our  Lord 
in  the  eighteenth  chapter  of  Matthew,  to  bring 
this  offending  brother  to  repentance.  But  I 
have  utterly  failed;  and  I  find  no  reason  to 
hope  that  by  further  delay,  or  by  a  renewal  of 
private  efforts,  any  good  end  will  be  accom- 
plished. In  this  feeling  the  two  brethren, 
whom  I  took  with  me  in  the  second  stage  of 
this  process,  fully  concur.  In  their  opinion,  as 
well  as  in  my  own,  I  have  no  choice  but  to 
invoke  the  interposition  of  the  Presbytery; 
and  I,  therefore,  respectfully  ask  leave  to 
prosecute  before  this  Judicatory  the  following 

CHARGE. 

The  Rev.  G.  T.  charges  the  Rev.  P.  B.,  a 
member  of  this  Presbytery,  with  unchristian 
and  unministerial  conduct,  as  set  forth  in  the 
following  specifications,  namely:— 

Specification  First. 

[Here  insert  the  specifications,  and  append  the  names  of  all 
the  witnesses,  after  the  models  already  given ;  and  then  con* 
elude  as  follows : — ] 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 
(Signed) 

G.  T.,  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  H. : 

[or,  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  J. ;  or,  G.  T.,  a 
member  of  the  church  in  B.,  under  the  care  of  the 
Presbytery  of  H,J 

8 


86  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

Mr.  T.  was  -''warned  that,"  according  to  the 
"Book  of  Discipline,"  chap.  v.  section  vii.,  "if 
he  fails  to  prove  the  charge,  he  must  himself 
be  censured  as  a  slanderer  of  the  gospel  minis- 
try, in  proportion  to  the  malignancy  or  rash- 
ness that  shall  appear  in  the  prosecution." 

To  which  warning  he  returned  the  following 
written  reply: — 

The  Rev.  G.  T.  replies,  and  declares  that,  so 
far  as  he  is  able  to  judge  his  own  motives,  he 
has  been  induced  to  enter  upon  the  present 
course  of  discipline  solely  by  an  imperative 
sense  of  duty;  and  he  cheerfully  assents  to 
the  propriety  of  the  rule  which  has  been  read 
to  him,  and  promises  to  submit  himself  to  the 
just  censure  of  the  Presbytery,  if  he  shall  ex- 
hibit either  "  malignancy  or  rashness  in  the 
prosecution." 

Leave  was  then  granted  to  him  to  prosecute 
the  charge,  with  its  specifications,  as  above 
recorded. 

Whereupon,  Mr.  B.,  the  minister  accused, 
fteing  present,  (i  a  full  copy  of  the  charges, 
with  the  names  of  the  witnesses  annexed," 
was  given  to  him. 

Mr.  B.  requested  that  the  Rev.  C.  E.,  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Presbytery,  may  be  assigned  to  him 
as  counsel;  to  aid  him  in  the  preparation  and 


DISCIPLINE.  87 

exhibition  of  his  defence  from  the  charge 
which  hiis  been  tabled  against  him. 

The  request  was  granted,  and  the  Bev.  C.  E. 
consenting,  he  was  appointed  counsel  for  the 
accused. 

It  was  then  Ordered, 

1.  That   the  "parties  and   their  witnesses'' 
be  cited  "  to  appear  and  be  heard  at  the  next 
meeting." 

2.  That,  when  the  Presbytery  shall  adjourn, 
it  will  adjourn   to  meet  in  this  place,  [or,  at 

,]  on  Tuesday,  the  day  of ;  at 

eleven  o'clock,  A.M. 

3.  That  the  Stated  Clerk  issue  written  cita- 
tions to  the  parties  and  to  the  witnesses  above 
named,  to  appear  before  the  Presbytery  at  the 
time   and   place    appointed   in    the   preceding 
order;  and   that  he  also  furnish  the  accused 
with  citations  for  such  witnesses  as  he  may 
desire  to  summon  to  testify  in  his  behalf. 

[The  subsoqucnt  proceedings  will  differ  so  little  from  those 
exhibited  in  the  first  case  before  the  Session,  that  it  is  not 
deemed  necessary  to  carry  eut  the  present  trial  any  further, — 
except  to  furnish  appropriate  "forms"  for  the  "Finding''  of 
the  Judicatory  in  a  case  of  an  "  Individual  Accuser." 

If  the  "  Finding"  is  that  the  charge  has  been  proved,  the 
record  may  be  made  in  the  following  terms: — ] 

The  Presbytery  of  H.,  having  heard  the 
charge  against  the  Eev.  P.  B.,  presented  by  tho 


88  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

.Rev.  G.  T.,  having  Gainfully  examined  all  tho 
testimony  introduced  by  both  the  parties,  and 
having  patiently  considered  the  arguments 
and  explanations  which  have  been  offered,  as 
well  by  the  accused  as  by  the  prosecutor,  is 
constrained  to  decide  that  the  charge  against 
the  said  Eev.  P.  B.  has  been  fully  proved. 
And,  further, 

The  Presbytery,  having  deliberately  con- 
sidered the  whole  case,  does  unanimously  judge 
and  determine,  that  the  said  Eev.  P.  B.  ought 
to  be,  and  he  hereby  is,  suspended  from  the 
exercise  of  the  functions,  all  and  singular,  of 
his  office,  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  until  he 
shall  givo  satisfactory  evidence  of  repentance. 

[If  the  Judicatory  shall  decide  that  the  charge  has  not  been 
proved,  it  may  be  necessary  to  rebuke  the  prosecutor,  accord- 
ing to  the  warning  given  to  him  at  the  beginning,  for  the  tem- 
per in  which  he  has  conducted  the  prosecution;  in  which  case 
the  record  should  be  : — ] 

The  Presbytery  of  H.,  having  heard  the 
charge  against  the  Eev.  P.  B.  preferred  by  the 
Eev.  G.  T.,  having  carefully  examined  all  the 
testimony  introduced  by  both  parties,  and 
having  patiently  listened  to  the  arguments  and 
explanations  which  have  been  offered,  as  well 
by  the  prosecutor  as  by  the  accused,  does 
eolemnlj  judge  and  declare  that  the  charge 


DISCIPLINE.  89 

against  the  said  Eev.  P.  B.  has  not  been 
proved.  And 

The  Presbytery  further  declares  and  nays 
that  it  has  been  deeply  pained  by  the  mani- 
festation, on  the  part  of  the  prosecutor,  of  an 
unkind  and  unchristian  spirit  towards  the 
accused,  for  which  it  finds  no  apology  in  the 
conduct  of  the  accused,  either  as  it  has  been 
displayed  before  the  Presbytery,  during  the 
painful  trial  now  terminated,  or  as  it  has  been 
proved  by  the  testimony  of  the  witnesses  who 
have  been  examined  by  the  parties  in  the  case: 
and 

The  Presbytery,  therefore,  feels  constrained 
to  admonish  the  said  prosecutor,  and  to  rebuke 
the  temper  in  which  he  has  conducted  the 
prosecution;  and  to  exhort  him  solemnly  to 
review  his  course  in  this  whole  procedure;  to 
be  reconciled  to  his  brother;  and  to  cultivate 
that  blessed  charity  which  "thinketh  no  evil," 
and  which  "rejoiccth  not  in  iniquity,  but  re- 
joiceth  in  the  truth." 

[If  the  conduct  of  tbe  prosecutor,  on  the  other  hand,  has 
been  of  thnt  charitable  and  conciliatory  character  which  makes 
it  evident  that  he  has  not  been  actuated  by  improper  and  un- 
christian motives  in  the  prosecution,  the  second  part  of  the 
"Finding"  should  be  expressed  in  the  following  terms: — ] 

The  Presbytery  further  declares  and  says 
that  it  has  been  highly  gratified  with  the  kind 

S* 


90  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

and  Christian  temper  of  the  prosecutor,  which 
has  been  exhibited  throughout  the  whole  trial 
now  so  happily  terminated;  and  that  it  is 
happy  to  feel,  and  to  testify,  that  it  is  not 
called  upon  to  pronounce  any  censure  upon 
him. 

The  case  is  dismissed,  therefore,  with  the 
hope,  which  the  Presbytery  rejoices  to  enter- 
tain, that  the  parties  will  henceforth  cherish, 
each  to  the  other,  those  sentiments  of  frater- 
nal confidence  and  affection  with  which  they 
are  both  regarded  by  their  brethren  of  the 
Presbytery. 

After  which, 

The  members  of  the  Judicatory  united  in 
prayer  and  thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God  for 
the  grateful  issue  to  which  he  has  been  pleased 
to  conduct  these  proceedings. 

[Une  class  of  cases  yet  remains.  It  is  said  in  the  "Book  of 
Discipline,"  chap.  iii.  sec.  vi.,  "  That  in  consequence  of  a  re- 
port, which  does  not  fully  amount  to  a  general  rumor,  a  slan- 
dered individual  may  request  a  judicial  investigation,  which  it 
may  be  the  duty  of  the  Judicatory  to  institute." 

Such  a  request  may  be  presented  orally,  or  in  writing,  at  the 
option  of  the  individual  making  it.  It  is  better,  however,  that 
all  such  communications  should  be  made  in  writing,  and  as 
definitely  as  possible.  It  may  be  introduced  to  the  Judicatory 
in  the  manner  following : — ] 

The  Moderator  called  the  attention  of  tho 
Presbytery  to  a  communication  which  has 


DISCIPLINE.  91 

been  placed  in  his  hands  by  the  Bev.  J.  P.,  a 
member  of  this  Presbytery,  with  a  request  that 
it  should  be  presented  to  the  Judicatory  for  its 
consideration. 

The  paper  was  read  for  the  information  of 
the  Presbytery,  and, 

After  mature  deliberation,  it  was 

Ordered,  That  it  be  entered  upon  the  minutes. 

The  communication  is  in  the  following 
words: — 

B ,  January  1,  18—. 

To  the  Bev.  A.  B., 

Moderator  of  the  Presbytery  of  H. 
BEV.  AND  DEAR  SIR  : — 

You  are  requested  to  present  to  the  Judica- 

•  tory  over   which   you    preside,  the  following 

statement,  for  its  consideration,  and  for  such 

action  as,  in  its  wisdom,  it  may  judge  to  be 

necessary  and  proper. 

The  undersigned  has  learned  that  a  report 
is  in  circulation,  to  the  injury  of  his  Christian 
and  ministerial  standing,  which  alleges  that  he 
has  appropriated  to  his  private  use  funds  in- 
trusted to  him  for  a  special  purpose,  [or,  state 
the  purpose,]  and  that,  when  an  explanation 
was  sought  from  him,  he  had  equivocated  in 
his  reply,  and  had  manifested  tokens  of  con- 
scions  guilt,  even  when  denying  the  truth  of 
the  charge. 


92  THE   PRESBYTERIAN   MANUAL. 

The  undersigned  has  learned  that  the  report 
further  alleges  that  he  has  been  guilty  in  a 
similar  manner  in  several  instances,  and  in 
each  of  his  former  pastoral  charges;  and  that 
credit  is  given  to  the  report  to  such  an  extent 
as  seriously  to  affect  his  Christian  and  minis- 
terial reputation.  In  proof  of  which,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  state  that  when,  recently,  the 

congregation  in was  about  to  present  to 

him  a  call  to  become  its  pastor,  this  report 
found  its  way,  and  was  circulated,  among  the 
people  of  that  congregation,  and  that  its  in- 
fluence upon  them,  as  he  is- credibly  informed, 
was  such  as  to  lead  them  to  relinquish  their 
purpose  of  inviting  him  to  settle  among  them 
in  the  ministry. 

Now,  inasmuch  as  the  undersigned  is  unable 
to  trace  this  report  to  any  responsible  indi- 
vidual, from  whom  he  might  demand  a  retrac- 
tion of  the  charge?  and  inasmuch  as  the  re- 
port has  been  so  extensively  circulated  that  no 
private  measures  can  relieve  him  from  the  ob- 
loquy which  has  been  cast  upon  him;  and  inas- 
much, moreover,  as  certain  friends,  in  whom 
he  reposes  the  greatest  confidence,  have  ad- 
vised him  to  this  course;  the  undersigned  re- 
spectfully requests  that  "a  judicial  investiga- 
tion" may  be  instituted  by  his  Presbytery, — 
the  constitutional  defender  of  his  Christian 


DISCIPLINE.  93 

and  ministerial  reputation, — that  he  may  have 
the  opportunity  to  disprove  before  his  breth- 
ren the  unworthy  charges  with  which  rumor 
has  connected  his  name. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 
(Signed) 

J.  P.,  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  H. 

The  following  minute  was  then  adopted, 
namely: — 

The  Presbytery  is  disposed  fully  to  recognize 
the  right  of  a  member  to  solicit  a  judicial  in- 
vestigation of  rumors  seriously  affecting  his 
Christian  and  ministerial  reputation,  and  to 
admit  that,  according  to  the  "  Book  of  Disci- 
pline," chapter  iii.  section  vi.,  "  \imay  be  the 
duty  of  the  Judicatory  to  institute  such  an  in- 
vestigation." 

At  the  same  time,  the  Presbytery,  as  the 
guardian  of  the  reputation  of  its  members,  is 
clearly  of  the  opinion  that  such  an  investiga- 
tion ought  not  to  be  instituted  without  a  mani- 
fest necessity;  and  that,  when  it  does  appear 
to  be  necessary,  the  greatest  caution  should  be 
exercised  in  every  stage  of  the  proceedings,  lest 
evil  rather  than  good  should  be  the  result,  and 
lest  the  reputation  of  a  brother  should  be  only 
the  more  seriously  compromitted  by  the  very 
measures  which  were  undertaken  in  its  defence. 


94  THE    PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

It  is  deemed  prudent,  therefore,  in  the  first 
instance,  to  appoint  a  committee  to  ascertain 
whether  the  rumors,  alleged  by  the  Rev.  J.  P. 
to  be  circulating  to  the  injury  of  his  Christian 
and  ministerial  reputation,  are  so  widely  spread, 
and  <*o  serious  in  their  nature,  as  to  make  it 
the  duty  of  the  Presbytery  to  institute  the  in- 
vestigation which  he  has  requested. 

The  Eev.  Messrs.  E.  F.  and  (r.  IL,  and  Mr. 
J.  JL,  elder,  were  appointed  the  committee 
contemplated  in  the  foregoing  minute;  and 
they  were  directed,  if  the  circumstances  should 
seem  to  demand  such  an  investigation,  to  pre- 
pare the  charge  in  proper  form,  and  to  report 
to  the  Presbytery  at  an  adjourned  meeting. 

[At  the  adjourned  meeting  the  report  of  the  committee  may 
be  to  the  effect  that  it  finds  no  sufficient  reason  for  instituting 
an  investigation  of  the  rumor,  and  that  it  recommends  to  the 
Presbytery  to  dismiss  the  whole  subject;  or,  if  the  members 
are  satisfied  that  an  investigation  ought  to  be  had,  the  com- 
mittee may  present  its  report  in  the  following  manner : — ] 

The  committee  which  was  appointed  at  the 
last  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  to  ascertain 
the  nature  and  prevalence  of  the  rumors 
in  the  case  of  the  Eev.  J.  P.,  respectfully  re- 
ports : — 

That  its  first  efforts  were  directed  to  ascer- 
tain whether  the  reports  referred  to  by  Mr. 
P.  do  prevail  to  such  an  extent  as  to  justify 


DISCIPLINE.  95 

the  Presbytery  in  commencing  a  judicial  pro- 
cess on  the  ground  of  "  common  fame." 

From  the  best  information  which  the  mem- 
bers of  the  committee  were  able  to  obtain, 
without  incurring  the  danger  of  themselves 
bruiting  the  matter,  they  were  satisfied  that 
the  rumors  are  both  extensive  and  clamorous 
throughout  the  bounds  of  several  of  our  own 
congregations,  and  in  certain  portions  of  an 
adjoining  Presbytery,  as  well  as  among  some 
of  the  neighboring  congregations  connected 
with  other  branches  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

Your  committee  next  proceeded  to  examine 
the  facts  bearing  upon  the  merits  of  the  case,  in 
order  to  determine  whether  the  rumors  are 
'-  so  serious  in  their  nature"  as  to  make  it 
the  duty  of  the  Presbytery  to  institute  a 
judicial  investigation  of  Mr.  P's.  conduct  in  the 
premises. 

To  this  inquiry  the  committee  gave  its  most 
earnest  attention.  And  the  result  to  wrhich  it 
has  been  led,  is  a  deep  conviction  that  the 
Presbytery  ought — without  unnecessary  delay 
• — to  give  Mr.  P.  the  opportunity  of  disproving 
the  rumors  so  extensively  believed,  to  the  in- 
jury of  his  Christian  and  ministerial  reputa- 
tion. 

The  character  of  the  ministry  in  general, 
also,  and  the  interests  of  religion,  in  the  judg- 


96  THE   PRESBYTERIAN   MANUAL. 

mcnt  of  your  committee,  do  certainly  require 
a  judicial  investigation  of  the  case,  in  order 
that  the  rumors,  if  untrue,  may  be  disproved 
and  put  to  silence. 

In  accordance,  therefore,  with  the  direction 
of  the  Presbytery,  the  committee  has  prepared, 
and  now  presents,  the  following 

CHAEGE. 

Common  fame  charges  the  Eev.  J.  P.,  a 
member  of  this  Presbytery,  with  unchristian 
and  unministerial  conduct,  as  the  same  is  set 
forth  in  the  following  specifications,  namely: — 

Specification  First. 

[Here  insert  the  specifications,  and  append  the  names  of  tho 
witnesses,  after  the  models  given  in  the  preceding  pages.  Then 
conclude  the  report  as  follows:]  — 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

By  order  of  the  Committee, 
(Signed)  E.  F.,  Chairman. 

The  report  of  the  committee  was  accepted. 

[Then  proceed  as  in  any  other  case  in  which  "common  fame 
is  the  accuser/*  That  an  investigation  has  been  instituted  at 
the  request  of  an  individual,  who  claims  that  he  has  been  slan- 
dered, furnishes  no  reason  why  the  "  actual  process,"  when  once 
commenced,  should  not  be  conducted  regularly  in  all  respects. 
It  is  a  "judicial  investigation/'  whatever  its  origin;  and  the 
object  of  the  Judicatory  should  be  to  ascertain  the  truth  in  re- 
gard to  the  matters  charged;  and  n<i — as  it  has  sometimes 


DISCIPLINE.  97 

seemed  to  be  supposed,  by  the  party  implicated,  that  it  was — 
merely  to  exculpate  the  accused,  and  to  shield  him,  by  the  sem- 
blance of  a  trial,  from  the  just  reproach  of  his  own  misconduct.] 

[If  the  accused  person  shall  fail  to  appear  before  the  Judica- 
tory  in  obedience  to  the  first  citation,  nothing  further  can  be 
done  than  to  ascertain  from  the  clerk  that  the  citation  has  been 
"  duly  served/'  and  to  authorize  and  issue  the  "  second  cita- 
tion/' giving  notice  to  the  prosecutor,  or  "  Committee  of  Prose- 
cution/' and  to  all  the  witnesses,  of  the  time  and  place  of  the 
next  meeting,  and  issuing  the  second  citation  to  any  witness 
who  may  have  failed  to  appear. 

By  chapter  iv.  section  xii.  of  the  "Book  of  Discipline/'  "at 
least  ten  days"  must  be  given  to  an  accused  person,  or  a  wit- 
ness, "  to  obey  the  first  citation.  But,  for  the  second,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  allow  *  sufficient  time*  for  a  seasonable  and  conve- 
nient compliance  with  the  citation." 

When  the  time  appointed  in  the  second  citation  shall  have 
arrived,  if  the  accused  person  still  fails  to  appear,  the  Judica- 
tory  (Session)  should  proceed  in  the  following  manner :] — 

It  having  been  ascertained  that  the  citations, 
ordered  at  the  last  meeting,  "have  been  duly 
served  on  the  persons  for  whom  they  were  in- 
tended," and 

Mr.  B.,  the  "Committee  of  Prosecution/' 
being  present,  and  ready  for  trial,  although  the 
accused  still  failed  to  -appear, 

The  Session  determined  to  proceed  to  the 
investigation  of  the  "  business  assigned  for 
trial/' 

The  Moderator  then  "solemnly  announced 
from  the  chair,  that  the  body  is  about  to  pass 
to  the  consideration  of  the  business  assigned 
9 


98  THE   PRESBYTERIAN   MANUAL. 

for  trial,  and  enjoined  on  the  members  to  re- 
collect and  regard  their  high  character,  as 
judges  of  a  court  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  tho- 
solemn  duty  in  which  they  are  about  to  act." 

Whereupon,  after  protracted  deliberation, 
the  following  minute  was  adopted,  namely  : — 

Whereas,  It  appears,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
Session,  that  J.  B.  G-.  has  been  duly  cited,  the 
second  time,  to  appear  before  the  Judicatory  to 
answer  to  the  charge  laid  against  him  on  the 
ground  of  common  fame ;  and 

Whereas,  He  still  refuses  to  obey  the  lawful 
summons  of  the  Session,  to  which,  as  a  member 
of  this  church,  he  is  properly  responsible,  in 
the  discipline  of  Christ's  house  : 

]STow,  therefore,  be  it  Resolved, 

1.  That  the  said  J.  B.  G-.  ought  to  be,  and  he 
hereby  is,  solemnly  "  excluded  from  the  com- 
munion of  the  church,  for  his  contumacy,  until 
he  repent. " 

2.  That,  according  to  the  "Book  of  Disci- 
pline,"   chapter  iv.  section  xiii.,  the    Session 
uwill  proceed  to   take  the   testimony  in  his 
case,  as  if  he  were  present." 

3.  That  Mr.  F.,  a  member  of  this  Judicatory, 
be  "  assigned,"  according  to  the  rule  referred 
to  in  the  preceding  resolution,  "to  manage  the 
defence'7  of  the  said  J.  B.  G-. 

The  charge,  with  its  specifications,  as  re- 


DISCIPLINE.  99 

corded  on  page  69  of  these  minutes,  was  then 
read  ;  and 

Mr.  F.,  representing  the  accused  by  the  ap* 
pointment  of  the  Session,  entered,  pro  forma, 
the  plea  of  Not  Guilty. 

The  "  Committee  of  Prosecution"  proceeded 
to  address  the  Judicatory,  presenting  his  view, 
ftp. 

[Proceed,  now,  as  in  tne  trial  before  given :  and,  after  the 
testimony  of  all  the  witnesses  shall  hare  been  taken  and  it  • 
corded,  let  the  following  minute  be  adopted,  naiaeiy  :—  J 

The  testimony  of  all  the  witnesses  in  the  caso 
of  J.  B.  G.  having  now  been  taken,  and  re- 
corded, with  the  advantage  to  the  accused  of 
the  cross-examination  of  each  witness  by  Mr. 
F.,  the  member  "  assigned  to  manage  the  de- 
fence," in  the  wilful  absence  of  the  said  J.  B.  G. ; 
and 

The  Session  having,  as  before  recorded,  ex- 
cluded the  said  J.  B.  G.  from  the  communion 
of  the  church,  because  of  his  contumacy  in  re- 
fusing to  appear  and  answer  to  the  charge  pre- 
ferred against  him  on  the  ground  of  common 
fame ; 

The  cause  of  religion  and  sound  morals  IB 
vindicated,  so  far  as,  by  the  Constitution  and 
laws  of  the  Presb}7terian  Church,  it  lies  in  the 
power  of  the  Session  to  do. 

"The  business  assigned  for  trial"  is,  there- 


100  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

fore,  now  loft,  without  any  decision  iu  regard 
to  the  guilt  or  innocence  of  the  accused,  as 
concerning  the  matters  charged  against  him; 
but  with  the  earnest  prayer  that  God,  in  the 
abundance  of  his  grace,  and  for  the  sake  of  our 
Blessed  Mediator  and  Advocate,  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  will  lead  our  offending  brother  to  re- 
pentance, as  for  all  his  sins,  so  for  this,  also,  his 
sin  of  contumacy,  in  "  refusing  to  hear  the 
Church/' 

[We  have  now  finished  all  the  "  forms"  in  the  original  trial 
of  cases  of  discipline  that  we  propose  to  give.  We  have  not, 
indeed,  carried  through  a  trial,  in  all  its  details;  because  it  is 
manifestly  impossible  to  furnish  within  any  reasonable  limits — 
if  at  all,  in  imaginary  cases — the  proper  forms  for  recording 
all  the  questions,  and  "points  of  order,"  and  decisions,  which 
may  be  called  forth  in  the  progress  of  a  judicial  investigation. 
Still,  it  is  believed  that,  in  all  essential  respects,  this  part  of  our 
Manual  will  be  found  to  be  complete. 

Before  we  proceed  to  the  subject  of  Appellate  Jurisdiction,  it 
is  thought  to  be  the  more  convenient  arrangement,  as  ft  is  the 
more  natural,  to  furnish  in  this  place  the  necessary  "forms" 
fcr  the  several  citations  which  the  "Book"  require  in  ttie  rro- 


CITATIONS.  101 


I.   To  the  Prosector 

G  -  ,  January  1,  IS  —  . 

To  the  Eev.  G.  T. 
SIR:— 

You  are  hereby  cited  to  be  and  appear  before 
the  Presbytery  of  H.,  at  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  C.,  on  Tuesday,  the  --  day  of  -  —  , 
at  eleven  o'clock,  A.M.,  then  and  there  to  prose- 
cute the  charge  against  the  Eev.  P.  B.,  by  you 
presented  to  the  Presbytery,  on  the  —  -  day 
of  -  }  to  the  end  that  "  the  matter  may  be 
fully  heard  and  decided." 

Ey  order  of  the  Presbytery  of  II. 
A.  E.;  Stated  Clerk. 

II.   To  the  Person  Accused. 

E  -  ,  January  17  18  —  . 

To  J.  B.  G-. 
SIR:— 

You  are  hereby  cited  to  be  a/id  appear  before 
the  Session  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  this 
village,  at  the  lecture-room  of  the  said  church, 
on  Tuesday,  the  -  day  of  -  ,  at  two 
o'clock,  p.  M.,  then  and  there  to  answer  to  the 
charge  preferred  against  you  by  common  fame; 
[or,  by  C.  S.;j  a  copy  of  which  charge,  with  the 
9* 


102  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

several  specifications  under  it,  and  with  the 
names  of  the  witnesses  appended  to  it,  was 

given  to  you  on  Tuesday,  the day  of ;  - 

to  the  end  that "  the  matter  may  be  fully  heard 
and  decided." 

By  order  of  the  Session. 
A.  B.,  Moderator,  [or  Clerk.'] 

III.  Second  Citation  to  the  Person  Accused. 

[The  second  citation  to  the  person  accused  should  not  differ 
from  the  form  given  for  the  first  citation,  except  in  the  neces- 
sary change  of  the  dates,  and  in  the  addition  to  it  of  the  follow- 
ing paragraph :] — 

This  being  your  l(  second  citation,"  you  are 
hereby  informed,  according  to  the  direction  of 
the  "  Book  of  Discipline/'  chapter  iv.  section 
x.,  that  if  you  fail  to  appear  at  the  time  and 
place  above  named,  you  will  "be  excluded  from 
the  communion  of  the  church,  for  your  contu- 
macy, until  you  repent  •"  and,  according  to  the 
xiii.  section  of  the  same  chapter,  that  the  Ses- 
sion, "besides  censuring  you  for  your  contu- 
macy, will,  after  assigning  some  person  to 
manage  your  defence,  proceed  to  take  the  testi- 
mony in  your  case,  as  if  you  were  present/' 

IV.  Third  Citation  to  a  Minister  Accused. 

[The  lirst  and  second  citations  to  a  minister  need  not  differ, 
except  circumstantially,  from  those  addressed  to  a  private  per- 
son; unless  it  should  be  thought  proper  to  refer  to  chapter  v. 


CITATIONS.  103 

Fection  xi.,  instead  of,  or  in  addition  to,  the  reference  to  chapter 
iv.  section  x. 

After  the  proceedings  in  the  Presbytery,  consequent  upon  the 
failure  of  the  accused  to  obey  the  second  citation, — after  the 
testimony  has  been  taken  and  recorded,  as  directed  in  chapter 
iv.  section  xiii., — if  the  minister  is  "accused  of  atrocious 
crime,"  it  is  provided  that  he  may  be  cited  a  third  time.  In 
this  citation  the  same  form  should  be  adopted  as  directed  for 
the  first, — see  No.  II.,  above, — with  the  addition  of  the  follow- 
ing paragraph  :] — 

This  being  your  "third  citation,"  you  are 
hereby  informed  that,  according  to  the  uBook 
of  Discipline/7  chapter  v.  section  xi.,  if  you 
shall  fail  to  appear  at  the  time  and  place  above 
named,  you  will  be  "  deposed  as  contumacious." 

Y.  To  a  Witness. 

E ,  January  31,  18 — . 

To  Mr.  B.  A. 

SIR:— 

You  are  hereby  cited  to  be  and  appear  before 
the  Session  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  this 
village,  in  the  lecture-room  of  the  said  church, 

on   Tuesday,   the   — - —   day   of  ,  at  two 

o'clock,  p.  M.,  then  and  there  to  give  your  testi- 
mony in  regard  to  the  matters  charged  against 
J.  B.  G-.  on  the  ground  of  common  fame,  [or, 
by  C.  S.] 

By  order  of  the  Session. 

A.  B.;  Moderator,  [or  Clerlt.~] 


104  THE    PRESBYTERIAN   MANUAL. 

VI.  Second  Citation  to  a  Witness. 

[The  second  citation  to  a  witness  should  be  after  the 
above  given, — see  No.  Vv — with  the  addition  of  the  following 
paragraph :] — 

This  being  your  "second  citation/'  3- on  are 
hereby  informed,  according  to  the  direction  of 
the  "  Book  of  Discipline/'  chapter  iv.  section 
x.,  that  if  you  fail  to  appear  at  the  time  and 
place  above  named,  you  will  "  be  excluded  from 
the  communion  of  the  church,  for  your  contu- 
macy, until  you  repent/' 


Jiptllate 


There  are  four  different  ways  provided  in  the  "  Book  of 
Discipline,"  chapter  vii.,  in  which  a  "decision  which  is  formed 
in  any  Judicatory,  except  the  highest,  may  be  carried  before  a 
superior  Judicatory"  for  review.  The*e  various  modes  are  so 
fully  described  in  the  several  sections  of  this  chapter,  that  H 
will  not  be  necessary  to  occupy  much  space  in  these  pages  with 
"  forms"  adapted  to  them. 

GENERAL  REYIEW  AND  CONTROL. 

In  the  first  mode — that  of  "General  Review  and  Control"— 
the  initiative  is  taken  by  the  superior  Judicatory,  and  all  the 
proceedings  of  the  inferior,  of  every  kind,  are  brought  under 
its  cognizance. 

-  The  ordinary  operation  of  this  mode  will  be  found  sufficiently 
exhibited  in  the  "  Form  for  the  Records  of  a  Presbytery/'  and 
also  in  that  "for  the  Records  of  a  Synod.'* 

In  regard  to  a  case  such  as  is  supposed  in  the  vi.  sub-section 
of  the  section  on  "  Review,"  it  is  proper  to  say  that  the  forma 
already  given  for  the  citation  of  individuals  will  suggest  the 


APPELLATE   JURISDICTION.  105 

proper  form  for  a  citation  which  may  be  addressed  to  an  infe- 
rior Judicatory;  and  that  the  minutes,  where  the  matter  to  be 
recorded  requires  that  they  should  be  peculiar  in  their  f&rm, 
must  be  so  much  modified  by  the  circumstances  which  they  are 
intended  to  set  forth,  that  it  is  evidently  impossible  to  provide 
for  them  beforehand. 

A  REFERENCE. 

The  second  mode  of  carrying  up  a  case  is  by  a  "Reference." 
In  this  mode,  the  inferior  Judicatory  either  invokes  the  advice 
of  the  superior  in  regard  to  some  question  which  has  arisen  in 
a  judicial  investigation,  or  refers  the  whole  case  to  the  superior 
Judicatory  for  adjudication. 

In  the  former  case,  the  minute  on  the  records  of  the  inferior 
Judicatory  should  be  : — ] 

A  question  here  arose,  whether,  &c.;  [state 

the  question  definitely.] 

After  a  protracted  discussion,  it  was 
Resolved,  That  this  question  be  referred  to 

the  Presbytery,  at  its  next  meeting,  for  its 

advice  in  regard  to  the  proper  decision  of  the 

point  involved. 

[The  form  in  which  this  reference  is  laid  before  the  superior 
Judicatory  may  be  as  follows : — ] 

The  Session  of  the  church  in  E.  respectfully 
refers  the  following  question  to  the  Presbytery 
of  H.,  for  its  advice  in  regard  to  the  manner 
in  which  it  should  be  decided : — 

Does  the  "Book  of  Discipline"  allow?  &c. ; 
[here  let  the  question  which  is  referred  be 
stated  definitely.] 

[In  the  superior  Judicatory  the  record  should  be : — 3 


106  THE   PRESBYTERIAN   MANUAL. 

An  overture  was  received  from  the  Session 
of  the  church  in  E.,  containing  the  following 
question,  which  the  Session  refers  to  this  bod} 
for  its  advice  : — 

"Does  the  <  Book  of  Discipline'  allow?"  &c. 

The  "  Reference"  was  made  the  order  of  the 
day  for  to-morrow  morning  at  ten  o'clock;  [or, 
was  put  upon  the  docket  for  future  considera- 
tion; or,  was  committed  to  the  Eev.  Messrs. 
A.  and  B.,  and  Mr.  C.,  elder,  to  consider  and 
report  during  the  present  sessions.] 

[In  the  subsequent  treatment  of  the  subject  by  the  superior 
Judicatory,  it  is  not  probable  that  any  peculiar  "form  of 
minute"  will  be  required.] 

[When  the  inferior  Judicatory  refers  a  case  for  adjudication 
by  the  superior,  it  should  place  upon  its  own  rec\«rds  a  full 
statement  of  the  reasons  which  have  induced  it  to  make  the 
"reference  •"  and  its  overture  to  the  superior  Judicatory  should 
foe  in  the  following  form  : — ] 

The  Session  of  the  church  in  E.  respectfully 
represents  to  the  Presbytery  of  H.  that,  in 
the  case  of,  [state  the  case,]  in  consequence  of, 
[state  the  reasons,]  it  appears  to  be  u  highly 
desirable"  to  remove  the  matter  from  the  juris- 
diction of  the  Session  to  that  of  the  Presby- 
tery. The  propriety  of  this  course  will  more 
fully  appear  from  the  minutes  of  the  Session, 
a  certified  copy  of  which  is  herewith  pre 
sented. 


APPELLATE  JURISDICTION.  107 

Tbe  Session  asks  leave,  therefore,  " totally 
to  relinquish  the  decision,  and  to  submit  the 
whole  cause  to  the  final  judgment  of  the  Pres- 
bytery." 

[If  the  superior  Judicatory  entertains  the  "  reference,"  it 
will  proceed  in  the  investigation  of  the  case  according  to  the 
forms  already  given.] 

AN  APPEAL. 

[In  the  third  mode  of  carrying  up  a  case  to  a  superior  Judi- 
catory, namely,  by  appeal,  a  party  to  a  judicial  investigation, 
against  whom  the  inferior  Judicatory  has  given  its  decision, 
applies  to  the  superior  to  review  and  reverse  the  said  decision 
*2  4L*  lower  court. 

The  trial  of  an  appeal  is  exhibited  in  the  "  Form  for  Ae 
Records  of  a  Synod." 

The  form  of  an  appeal  is  here  given,  as  follows  : — j 


-,  January  1,  18 — . 

To  the  Eev.  E.  B., 

Moderator  of  the  Synod  of  N. 
EEV.  AND  DEAR  SIR  : — 

The   appeal  of  the   undersigned   from   the 
decision  of  the  Presbytery  of  A.  in  his  case, 

respectfully  represents  that,  on  the  day 

of ,  in  the  year  18 — ,  the  said  Presbytery 

of  A.  did  pronounce  against  him  the  judgment 
herein  set  forth  below,  as  the  result  of  its 
investigation  of  certain  charges  affecting  th# 
Christian  and  ministerial  standing  of  your 
appellant,  which  had  been  presented  to  the 
Presbytery  by  the  Eev.  G.  T.j  [or  which  had 


108  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

been  prepared  by  a   committee  of  the   said 
Presbytery,  on  the  ground  of  "  common  fame."] 
The  decision  of  the  Presbytery  is  expressed 
in  the  following  words,  namely : — 

.  [Here  insert  the  decision  of  the  Presbytery  as  recorded  on 
page  88  of  this  volume.] 

From  this  decision  of  the  Presbytery  afore- 
said the  undersigned  appeals  to  the  Synod  of 
1ST.,  and  respectfully  requests  the  Synod  to 
reverse  the  decision  of  the  inferior  Judicatory, 
and  to  restore  him  to  the  full  exercise  of  the 
functions  of  his  office,  from  which  he  claims 
that  he  has  been  unjustly  suspended. 

And  for  this  appeal  he  presents  the  following 
reasons ;  all  of  which  he  respectfully  asks  that 
opportunity  may  be  afforded  him  to  vindicate 
and  prove  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the 
Synod. 

I.  Because,  &c. 

[Here  let  all  the  reasons  on  which  the  appellant  relies  to 
sustain  his  appeal  follow,  in  their  most  natural  order,  (see 
"Book  of  Discipline,"  chapter  vii.  section  iii.  sub-section  iiiv) 
and  let  the  whole  be  closed  in  the  following  manner: — ] 

And  now,  Mr.  Moderator,  for  all  these  rea- 
sons, I  appeal  from  the  decision  of  the  Presby- 
tery aforesaid  to  the  judgment  of  the  reverend 
body  over  which  you  preside,  and  solicit  at 


DISSENTS   AND   PROTESTS.  109 

your  hands  the  justice  which,  as  it  appears  to 
me,  was  withheld  from  me  in  the  court  below. 
I  am,  reverend  and  dear  sir, 
With  very  great  respect, 

Yours,  &c., 
(Signed)  P.  B. 

COMPLAINT. 

[In  the  fourth  mode  of  bringing  a  case  to  the  notice  of  a 
superior  Judicatory,— 4>y  complaint, — some  individual,  not  a 
party  in  the  case,  complains  of  the  course  pursued  or  of  the 
decision  made  by  the  body  before  which  the  case  was  investi- 
gated, and  asks  the  superior  Judicatory  to  review  the  proceed- 
ings, and  to  rectify  the  wrong  which  it  is  claimed  has  been 
done. 

The  complaint  differs  from  an  appeal  chiefly  in  this :  that  the 
appeal  must  be  made  by  a  party  to  an  investigation,  claiming 
to  have  been  injured  by  the  decision  of  the  inferior  Judicatory. 
The  complaint  may  be  brought  by  any  person  who  is  not  a 
party. 

The  principles  involved  in  the  "complaint"  are  exhibited  in 
the  iv.  section  of  the  vii.  chapter  of  the  "Book  of  Discipline;" 
but  the  appropriate  forms  of  procedure  would  differ  so  little 
from  those  required  in  the  case  of  an  appeal,  that  it  seems  tc  be 
unnecessary  to  furnish  them.] 


Jisstnts  Bift  1  rofests. 


[The  "Book  of  Discipline,"  chapter  viii.,  defines  the  nature 
of  these  important  safeguards  of  the  rights  of  a  minority,  and 
settles  the  principles  on  which  they  are  to  be  employed.  The 
following  "forms"  have  been  carefully  adapted  to  the  directions 
of  that  chapter, 

10 


110  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

A  dissent  by  a  single  member  of  any  Judicatory  may  be 
recorded  in  the  following  terms: — ] 

The  Eev.  E.  C.  desired  that  his  respectful 
dissent  from  this  decision  [or,  resolution,  or, 
opinion]  may  be  entered  upon  the  minutes. 

[A  protest,  even  by  a  single  individual,  should  be  preceded 
by  a  notice,  which,  in  all  ordinary  cases,  ought  to  be  given 
immediately  after  the  decision  against  which  the  member 
desires  to  protest.  Sufficient  time  can  then  be  taken  to  prepare 
the  protest  with  its  reasons.  The  minute  should  be: — ] 

The  Eev.  E.  C.  gave  notice  of  his  intention 
to  enter  his  protest  against  this  decision  [or, 
proceeding]. 

[If  the  minority  is  composed  of  several  members,  the  notice 
may  be  recorded  in  the  following  manner  : — ] 

The  Eev.  E.  C.,  for  himself,  and  for  others 
who  may  wish  to  join  with  him,  gave  notice 
of  their  intention  to  enter  their  dissent  from 
[or,  protest  against]  this  decision. 

[When  the  dissent  or  protest  shall  have  been  prepared  and 
signed  by  all  who  desire  to  join  in  it,  it  should  be  introduced 
upon  the  record  in  the  following  manner : — ] 

In  accordance  with  the  notice  which  was 
given  yesterday,  [or,  which  was  heretofore 
given,]  the  following  dissent  [or,  protest]  was 
presented;  and,  having  been  read,  it  was  or- 
dered to  be  entered  upon  the  minutes : — 


DISSENTS   AND    PROTESTS.  Ill 

[The  dissent  may  be  expressed  in  the  language  which  fol- 
lows : — ] 

The  undersigned  ask  leave  to  record  upon 
the  minutes  their  respectful  dissent  from  the 
decision  [or,  resolution,  or,  action]  of  the 
majority  of  the  Presbytery  [or,  Synod]  in 
regard  to  [here  let  the  matter  be  indicated  as 
briefly  as  possible]. 

(Signed)          E.  C.         B.  Y.         E.  G.,  &c. 

[The  following  is  a  suitable  form  for  a  protest  with  rea- 
sons : — ] 

The  undersigned  respectfully  ask  leave  to 
record  upon  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  [or, 
Synod]  their  solemn  protest  against  the  deci- 
sion [or,  action]  of  the  majority  in  reference 
to  [here  indicate  the  matter],  for  the  following 
reasons,  namely: — 

I.  [Here  present  the  reasons  and  arguments  which  have 
influenced  the  minds  of  the  members  protesting,  and  add  the 
signatures  of  all  who  desire  to  unite  in  making  the  protest.] 

[If  the  Juclicatory  shall  be  of  opinion  that  the  protest  ought 
to  receive  an  answer,  in  order  that  the  "principles  or  reason- 
ings" which  influenced  the  action  of  the  majority  may  be 
accurately  represented,  a  committee  for  this  purpose  should  bo 
appointed,  the  members  composing  it  being  taken  from  the 
majority,  thus : — ] 

The  Eev.  Messrs.  A.  and  B.  were  appointed 
a  committee  "  to  draw  up  an  answer''  to  the 


112  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

foregoing  protest;  [or,  if  the  committee  shall 
not  be  appointed  until  after  the  transaction  of 
other  business  shall  have  intervened,  to  thq 
protest  of  the  Rev.  E.  C.  and  others.] 

[When  the  answer  to  the  protest  is  introduced,  the  minute 
should  be  in  the  following  form: — ] 

The  committee  which  was  appointed  "to 
draw  up  an  answer  to  the  protest"  of  the  Eev. 
E.  C.  and  others,  presented  its  report,  which 
was  adopted  as  the  answer  of  the  majority  of 
the  Presbytery,  [or,  Synod,]  and  is  as  fol- 
lows : — 

The  action  of  the  Presbytery,  against  which 
the  Eev.  E.  C.  and  others  have  entered  their 
protest,  is  not  justly  liable  to  the  objections 
urged  by  the  members  protesting,  for  the  fol- 
lowing reasons,  namely:  [or,  as  will  appear 
from  the  following  considerations,  namely:] 

I.  [The  reasons  or  considerations  should  be  so  framed  as  to 
answer  all  the  arguments  of  the  protest;  yet  they  should  be 
presented  as  briefly  as  possible.] 

[If  the  members  who  signed  the  protest  should  "consider  the 
answer  of  the  majority  as  imputing  to  them  opinions  or  con- 
duct which  they  disavow/'  or  as  doing  injustice  to  the  argu- 
ments which  they  had  advanced  in  their  protest,  they  may 
desire  to  modify  in  some  respects  the  protest  which  they  have 
entered;  and  the  minute  should  be  : — ] 

The  members,  to  whose  protest  the  fore- 
going answer  was  made  by  the  majority  of 


DISSENTS   AND   PROTESTS.  113 

the  Presbytery,  requested  "leave  to  take  back 
their  protest,"  that  they  might  "  modify  it  in 
such  manner  as  to  render  it  more  agreeable  to 
their  views."  And 

Their  request  was  granted. 

[The  modified  protest  having  been  presented,  the  record 
should  state  that] 

The  modified  protest  of  the  Eev.  E.  C.  and 
others  was  presented;  and,  having  been  read 
it  was  ordered  to  be  entered  upon  the  minutes 
in  the  words  following: — 

The  undersigned,  &c. 

[If  the  "alteration"  which  is  made  in  the  protest  shall  seem 
to  require  "a  corresponding  alteration  in  the  answer  of  tho 
majority,"  the  alteration  may  be  made  in  the  house,  or  the 
paper  may  be  referred  back  to  the  committee  for  the  purpose, 
as  follows : — ] 

The  modifications  in  the  protest  as  now 
presented  having  rendered  proper  "a  corre- 
sponding alteration  in  the  answer  of  the 
majority," 

The  original  answer  was  referred  again  to 
the  committee  which  drew  it  up,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  making  the  necessary  modifications. 

[When  the  committee  shall  report  the  modified  answer  to  the 
protest,  the  record  may  be  : — ] 

The  committee  on  the  " answer  to  the  pro- 
test of  the  Eev.  E.  C.  and  "thers"  presented 

10* 


114  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

the  document,  as  now  modified  in  accordance 
with  the  alterations  which  have  been  made  in 
the  protest,  and  it  was  adopted,  as  follows: — 
The  action  of  the  Presbytery,  &c. 

[When  a  protest  is  " accompanied  with  a  complaint  to  a 
superior  Judicatory" — as  provided  in  the  chapter  "of  Dissents 
and  Protests,"  sec.  iv. — the  "form"  may  be  as  follows: — ] 

The  undersigned  ask  leave  to  record  their 
solemn  protest  against  the  decision  of  a 
majority  of  the  Presbytery  in  regard  to  [hero 
state  the  matter],  and  give  notice  of  their  in- 
tention to  complain  of  the  same  to  the  Synod 
of  N..  at  its  next  meeting,  'for  the  following 

/  o>  o 

reasons,  namely: 

I.,  &c.,  [Here  present  the  reasons,  as  before 
directed.] 

[If  the  complainants  desire  more  time  than  they  can  com- 
mand during  the  sessions  of  the  Judicatory,  to  arrange  the 
reasons  for  their  complaint,  they  are  permitted,  by  the  section 
"  Of  Complaints,"  sub-section  iv.,  to  present  them  to  the 
Moderator  "  within  ten  days"  after  "  the  rising  of  the  Judica- 
tory."  If  they  design  to  avail  themselves  of  this  privilege,  the 
last  clause  of  the  above  notice — "for  the  following  reasons, 
namely :" — should  be  replaced  by  the  following  words  : — The 
reasons  for  the  complaint  they  will  "lodge  with  the  Moderator" 
within  ten  days  after  the  rising  of  the  Presbytery.] 


FORM  FOR  THE  RECORDS  OF  A  SYNOD.  115 


|ornt  for  %  $ct0rfcs  0f  a 

SYNOD  OF  N  -  . 

A.D.    18—. 

The  Synod  of  N  -  met  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  H.,  on  Tuesday,  October  17th,  A.D. 
18  —  ,  at  seven  o'clock  P.M.,  and  was  opened 
with  a  sermon  by  the  Moderator,  the  Eev.  H.  L., 
of  the  Presbytery  of  K.,  from  2  Timothy  i.  13  : 
—  "Hold  fast  the  form  of  sound  words,  which 
thou  hast  heard  of  me,  in  faith  and  love  which 
is  in  Christ  Jesus." 

After  the  sermon,  the  Moderator  offered 
prayer,  and  presided  during  the  constituting 
of  the  Synod. 

The  roll  was  made  out,  and  is  as  follows:  — 

MINISTERS.  CHUKCIIES.  ELDERS. 

Of  the  Presbytery  of  H. 
J.  D. 

E.  A.  C.  P.  K 

A.  B.  B.  L.F. 

E.  *G.  S. 

Of  the  Presbytery  of  B 
J.F.  L.  D.E. 

E.  B.  F.  *W.  T. 

*B.  S. 

K  G.  E. 

*  Not  present  at  the  opening  of  the  Synod. 

[The  entire  roll  of  the  members  in  attendance  upon  the 


116  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

Of  the  Presbytery  of  E. 
II.  L.  P.  J.  B. 

S.  M.  L.  *C.  G. 

*T.  a. 

Of  the  Presbytery  of  S. 
E,  K.,  W.  F.  P. 

M.  O.  T.  *B.  K 

Ministers.— 47.  Elders.— 32. 

The  Eev.  E.  B.,  of  the  Presbytery  of  B.,  was 
elected  Moderator;  and  the  Eev.  Messrs.  O.  J. 
and  D.  P.  were  elected  temporary  Clerks. 

The  Committee  of  Arrangements  presented 
the  following  report,  which  was  adopted, 
namely: — 

,  The  committee  recommends  the  following 
arrangement  for  the  devotional  and  business 
sessions  of  the  Synod: — 

1.  That  the  Sy nodical  Sermon  be  preached 
in  the  church,  on  Wednesday  evening,  at  half- 
past  seven  o'clock. 

2.  That  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
be  celebrated  in  the  church,  on  Thursday,  at 
half-past  two  o'clock  P.M. 

sessions  of  the  Synod  should  be  inserted.  The  members  coming 
after  the  opening  session  will  be  recognised  in  their  proper 
places  in  the  minutes;  but  they  should  be  indicated  in  the  roll 
by  an  asterisk  prefixed  to  their  names,  as  in  the  text,  and  re- 
ferring to  a  note  at  the  bottom  of  the  page,  as  above.] 
a  *  Not  present  at  the  opening  JrU»«sion  of  the  Syno^. 


MINUTES    OF   A   SYNOD.  117 

3.  That   the   Sy  nodical   Prayer-Meeting   be 
liolden  in  the  church,  on  Thursday  evening,  at 
half-past  seven  o'clock;  and 

4.  That  the  business  sessions  of  the  Synod 
be  liolden  in  the  lecture-room,  of  this  church, 
as  follows: — 

The  morning  session  to  commence  at  half- 
past  eight  o'clock,  and  to  continue  until  half- 
past  twelve; 

The  afternoon  session  to  commence  at  half- 
past  two  o'clock,  and  to  continue  until  half- 
past  five;  and 

The  evening  session  to  commence  at  half- 
past  seven  o'clock. 

The  Synod  then  adjourned,  to  meet  to- 
morrow morning,  at  half-past  eight  o'clock,  in 
the  lecture-room  of  this  church. 

Concluded  with  prayer  by  the  Moderator. 

WEDNESDAY,  October  18,  18— - 

The  Synod  met,  pursuant  to  adjournment, 
and  engaged  in  devotional  exercises,  according 
to  the  standing  rule.* 

The  roll  was  then  called,  and  the  following 


*  The  Synod  whose  records  have  been  taken  as  a  guide  in 
preparing  the  "Form"  in  the  text  has  a  standing  rule  requir- 
ing that  its  "daily  sessions  shall  be  opened  with  devotional 
exercises,  to  be  continued  at  least  three-fourths  of  an  hour." 


118  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

additional  members  were  reported  as  being 
present,  namely: — * 

Of  the  Presbytery  of  H.,  Mr.  G.  S.,  elder. 

Of  the  Presbytery  of  R.,  the  Eev.  J.  G-. ;  and 

Of  the  Presbytery  of  S.,  Mr.  B.  K,  elder. 

The  minutes  of  the  opening  session  wero 
read  and  approved;  and  printed  copies  of  the 
minutes  of  the  last  annual  meeting  were  dis- 
tributed among  the  members  f 

Information  was  received  from  the  Eev. 
Messrs.  S.  F.,  G.  L.,  P.  S.,  D.  B.,  J.  W.,  II.  T., 
and  D.  M.,  communicating  the  reasons  of  their 
absence  from  the  present  sessions  of  the  Synod. 

The  Eev.  Messrs.  G.  D.,  of  the  Synod  of  P., 
L.  H.,  D.D.,  of  the  Synod  of  J.,  E.  C.,  of  the 

*  This  minute  is  formed  in  accordance  with  another  rule  of 
the  same  Synod,  by  which  members  coming  at  any  time  after 
the  opening  session  are  required  to  report  themselves,  and 
their  excuses,  to  the  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Leave  <>f 
Absence.  The  clerks  enter  their  names  upon  the  roll  as  they 
are  reported  to  them  by  the  chairman  of  the  committee.  Time 
otherwise  consumed  in  hearing  excuses  for  late  attendance — in 
a  numerous  Synod,  often  serious  in  its  aggregate — is  thus 
saved;  and  an  unpleasant  interruption  to  business,  frequently 
recurring,  is  obviated.  The  operation  of  the  rule  has  proved 
to  be  highly  satisfactory. 

f  If  a  Synod  has  not  the  useful  practice  of  printing  its 
minutes  for  circulation  among  its  members  and  the  churches 
under  its  care,  the  second  clause  of  this  minute  should  be  re- 
placed by  the  following: — "and  the  minutes  of  the  last  annual 
meeting  were  also  read." 


MINUTES   OF  A   SYNOD.  119 

Berkshire  Association,  Mass.,  and  A.  B.  L., 
D.D.,  of  the  Synod  of  A.,  being  present,  were 
invited  to  sit  as  corresponding  members 

The  docket  of  business  was  then  presented 
and  read  by  the  Stated  Clerk. 

The  Moderator  announced  the  Standing 
Committees,  as  follows: — 

1.  Of  Bills  and  Overtures.— The  Eev.  Drs.  A., 
E.,  and  M.,  and  Messrs.  A.,  J.,  and  "VV.,  elders. 

2.  Judicial  Committee. — The  Eev.  Dr.  S.,  the 
Eev.  Messrs.  P.  and  H.,  and  Messrs.  B.  and  P., 
elders. 

3.  On  Leave  of  Absence. — The  Eev.  Messrs.  G-. 
and  C.,  and  Dr.  J.,  elder. 

4.  On  the  Narrative. — The  Eev.   Messrs.  C., 
M.,  and  W.,  and  Messrs.  Gr.  and  J.,  elders. 

5.  On  the  Minutes  of  the  General  Assembly. — 
The  Eev.  Messrs.  F.  and  S.  T.,  and  Mr.  T.,  elder. 

On  the  Records  of  the  Presbyteries. 

Of  H.— The  Eev.  Messrs.  L.  and  C.,  and  Mr. 
B.,  elder. 

Of  B.— The  Eev.  Messrs.  T.  and  S.,  and  the 
Hon.  M.  P.,  elder. 

Of  R.— The  Eev.  Messrs.  F.  and  B.,  and  Dr. 
E,.  elder. 

Of  S.— The  Eev.  Messrs.  P.  and  A.,  and  Mr. 
S.,  elder. 

The  Committee  of  Arrangements  presented 
a  report;  recommending  the  following  order  of 


120  THE   PRESBYTERIAN   MANUAL. 

exercises   for  the   celebration   of   the   Lord's 
Supper  on  Thursday  afternoon,  namely: — 

1.  Introductory  Remarks,  and  Hymn,  by  the 
Moderator. 

2.  Prayer,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  T. 

3.  Address,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  A. 

4.  Administration  of  the  Sacrament,  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  C. 

5.  Address,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  D. 

6.  Prayer,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  W. 

7.  Hymn,  and  Benediction,  by  the  Moderator. 

The  committee  also  recommended  the  follow- 
ing order  of  exercises  for  this  evening: — [In- 
sert order.] 

The  recommendations  of  the  committee  were 
adopted. 

The  Treasurer  of  the  Synod  presented  his 
annual  report;  and,  having  been  read,  it  was 
referred  to  Mr.  J.  and  Dr.  W.,  elders,  for  ex- 
amination. 

Mr.  P.,  elder,  was  appointed  a  committee  to 
receive  from  the  several  Presbyteries  the 
amount  assessed  upon  them  in  the  standing  rule 
to  meet  the  contingent  expenses  of  the  Synod.* 

*  An  assessment  upon  the  several  Presbyteries,  arranged 
according  to  the  number  and  ability  of  the  churches  under  the 
care  of  each,  has  been  found  to  be  the  most  satisfactory  method 
of  obtaining  the  funds  required  for  the  incidental  expenses  of 
the  Synod. 


MINUTES   OF   A   SYNOD.  121 

The  next  annual  meeting  of  the  Synod  (vas 
appointed  to  be  holden  in  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  in  N.,  on  the  third  Tuesday  in 
October,  A.D.  18 — ,  at  seven  o'clock  P.M.;  and 
the  Eev.  Drs.  A.  arid  B.,  the  Eev.  Mr.  C.,  and 
Messrs.  D.  and  E.,  and  Dr.  F.,  elders,  were  ap- 
pointed the  Committee  of  Arrangements. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  A.,  the  Eev.  Mr.  C.,  and  Mr. 
H.,  elder,  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
nominate  a  preacher,  and  to  propose  a  subject 
for  the  sermon  to  be  delivered  during  the  next 
annual  meeting  of  the  Synod. 

It  was  made  the  order  of  the  day  for  to- 
morrow morning  at  ten  o'clock  to  hear  the 
statistical  reports  of  the  several  Presbyteries, 
and  the  Narratives  of  the  State  of  Eeligion 
within  their  bounds. 

The   committee  on  ,  appointed  at  the 

last  annual  meeting  of  the  Synod,  reported 
progress,  and  requested  to  be  continued;  and 
also  that  Messrs.  G-.  and  H.,  elders,  may,  for 
reasons  which  were  briefly  assigned,  be  added 
to  the  committee  as  at  present  constituted. 

The  report  was  accepted,  and  the  requests 
of  the  committee  were  granted. 

The  committee  appointed  at  the  last  annual 
meeting  to  consider  the  subject  of pre- 
sented a  report,  which  was  accepted. 
11 


122  THE   PRESBYTERIAN   MANUAL. 

On  the  question  of  adopting  the  report,  a 
protracted  discussion  arose; — pending  which, 

A  recess  was  taken  until  half-past  two 
o'clock. 

After  the  recess,  the  following  additional 
members  were  reported  as  being  present, 
namely : — 

Of  the  Presbytery  of  H.,  the  Eev.  B.  J.  and 
Mr.  E.  T.,  elder; 

Of  the  Presbytery  of  E.,  Mr.  C.  Gr.,  elder. 

The  unfinished  business  of  the  morning, 
namely,  the  report  of  the  committee  on  the 
subject  of  ,  was  then  taken  up  for  con- 
sideration; and, 

After  further  discussion, 

In  view  of  the  importance  of  the  subject,  the 
report  was  referred  to  the  Eev.  Dr.  S.,  the  Eev. 
Mr.  II.,  and  Messrs.  B.  and  J.,  elders,  to  give  it 
further  consideration,  and  to  report  at  the  next 
annual  meeting  of  the  Synod. 

The  committee  to  audit  the  Treasurer's  ac- 
counts reported  that  it  finds  them  to  be 
correct,  as  compared  with  the  vouchers  ac- 
companying them. 

The  report  was  accepted. 

The  Committee  of  Bills  and  Overtures  re- 
ported that  an  overture — No.  I. — had  been 
presented  to  it,  proposing  that  measures  should 
be  taken  with  a  view  to  the  division  of  this 


MINUTES    OF   A    SYNOD.  123 

Body  into  two  Synods.  The  committee  recom- 
mends that  no  action  should  be  taken  on  this 
subject: — and 

The  recommendation  of  the  committee  was 
unanimously  adopted. 

The  committee  also  reported  that  it  had  re- 
ceived an  overture — "No.  II. — in  reference  to  the 
erection  of  a  new  Presbytery,  to  be  composed 
of  portions  of  the  Presbyteries  of  B.  and  E. 

In  regard  to  the  subject  of  this  overture, 
the  committee  is  of  the  opinion  that  there 
exists  no  occasion  for  the  exercise  of  the 
Synod's  power  "to  erect  new  Presbyteries/' 
in  the  absence  of  any  request  to  that  eifect 
from  the  Presbyteries  concerned.  The  com- 
mittee therefore  recommends  that  no  action 
should  be  taken  in  the  premises  by  the  Synod. 

The  recommendation  was  adopted. 

The  committee  further  reported, 

Overture  III.  In  our  "Form  of  Govern- 
ment/' chap.  xiii.  sec.  ii.,  do  the  words 
"church"  and  "congregation"  mean  the  same 
body? 

The  committee  recommends  that  this  inquiry 
be  answered  in  the  affirmative. 

This  report  was  accepted,  and  referred  to 
the  Rev.  Messrs.  M.  and  N.,  to  prepare  a  minute 
which  shall  express  the  judgment  of  the  Synod 
upon  the  subject. 


124  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

A  recess  was  then  taken  until  half-past 
seven  o'clock,  in  the  church. 

At  half-past  seven  o'clock,  the  Eev.  E.  !N".  B. 
preached,  by  appointment,  on  "  The  Doctrine" 
of  Eegeneration,"  from  John  i.  13: — "Which 
were  born,  not  of  blood,  nor  of  the  will  of  the 
flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man,  but  of  God;"  and 
the  exercises  were  conducted  according  to  the 
previous  arrangement  of  the  Synod. 

After  the  services, 

The  Synod  adjourned,  to  meet  to-morrow 
morning,  at  half-past  eight  o'clock;  in  the 
lecture-room. 

Concluded  with  prayer. 

THURSDAY,  October  19,  18—, 

The  Synod  met,  pursuant  to  adjournment, 
and  engaged  in  devotional  exercises,  according 
to  the  standing  rule. 

The  calling  of  the  roll  was  dispensed  with.    - 

Mr.  C.  G.,  elder,  of  the  Presbytery  of  /£.,  was 
reported  as  being  present. 

The  minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  yesterday 
were  read  and  approved. 

The  Committee  of  Arrangements  made  a 
report,  recommending  the  following  order  of 
exercises  for  the  Sy  lodical  Prayer-Meeting  at 
half-past  seven  o'clock  this  evening: — [Insert 
Report.] 


MINUTES   OF   A   SYNOD.  125 

The  report  was  adopted. 

The  committee  which  was  appointed  to  ex- 
amine the  Minutes  of  the  General  Assembly 
reported  that  it  would  call  the  attention  of  the 
Synod  to  the  following  items,  namely  : — 

1.  On  page  482 :  The  recommendation  by  the 
Assembly  of  the  observance  of  the  first  Monday 
in  January  as  a  day  of  prayer  for  the  conver- 
sion of  the  world,  and  also  of  the  last  Thurs- 
day in  February  as  a  day  of  prayer  for  colleges. 

2.  On  page  496:  The  subject  of  the  "  Church- 
Erection  Fund"  of  the  General  Assembly. 

3.  On    page    503:     The    resolution    of   the 
Assembly  on  the  subject  of  Temperance. 

4.  On  page  511 :  The  action  in  regard  to  the 
Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication. 

5.  On  page  513:  The  subject  of  the  Educa- 
tion of  Young  Men  for  the  Office  of  the  Gospel 
Ministry.     And, 

:  6.  On  page  538 :  The  recommendation  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  1821,  That  "all  the 
churches  under  our  care  observe  the  afternoon 
or  evening  previous  to  the  meeting  of  the  General 
Assembly  as  A  SEASON  OF  SPECIAL  PRAYER  to 
Almighty  God  for  his  blessing"  upon  its  sessions. 

The  report  of  the  committee  was  accepted. 

The  first  item  of  the  report  was  then  taken 
up  for  consideration;  and  the  Synod  recom- 
mended to  all  the  churches  under  its  care  to 
ll* 


126  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

observe  the  first  Monday  in  January,  and  tho 
last  Thursday  in  February,  in  the  manner 
contemplated  in  the  recommendation  of  the 
General  Assembly. 

The  second,  fourth,  and  fifth  items  of  the 
report  were  put  upon  the  docket  for  future 
consideration. 

The  third  item  of  the  report — on  the  subject 
of  Temperance — was  taken  up,  arid  the  resolu- 
tion of  the  Assembly  was  adopted,  in  the 
words  following,  namely: — 

[The  insertion  of  the  minute  itself  is  not  deemed  to  be 
essential  to  the  purpose  of  these  "  forms."] 

The  sixth  item  of  the  report — respecting 
special  prayer  for  the  General  Assembly — was 
then  taken  up  for  consideration;  and  the 
following  resolution  was  adopted : — 

Resolved,  That  the  Synod  heartily  concurs 
in  this  important  recommendation  of  the 
Assembly  of  1821,  and  would  express  its 
earnest  desire  that  the  observance  of  the  ap- 
pointed season  of  special  prayer  in  behalf  of 
each  General  Assembly  may  be  revived. 

The  Committee  of  Bills  and  Overtures  re- 
ported, 

Overture  IV.  May  an  accused  person  who 
fails  to  appear4for  trial,  and  is  proved  to  bo 
guilty  of  ths  charges  alleged  against  him, 


MINUTES    OF   A    SYNOD.  127 

be  sentenced  on  evidence  taken  in  his  ab- 
sence? 

This  overture  was  put  upon  the  docket  for 
future  consideration. 

The  Synod  then  proceeded  to  the  order  of  the 
day.  The  statistical  reports  of  the  several 
Presbyteries,  and  the  Narratives  of  the  State  of 
Eeligion  within  their  bounds,  were  read;  and 
the  latter  were  referred  to  the  Committee  on 
the  Narrative  of  the  Synod. 

The  Judicial  Committee  reported  the  appeal 
of  M.  N.  from  the  decision  of  the  Presbytery 
of  A.  as  having  been  regularly  conducted  on 
the  part  of  the  appellant,  and  recommended 
that  it  be  taken  up  in  the  order  prescribed  in 
the  "  Book  of  Discipline/'  chap.  vii.  sec.  iii.  sub- 
sections viii.  ana  ix. 

The  report  was  adopted;  and 

It  was  made  the  order  of  the  day,  for  this 
afternoon,  after  the  services  of  the  communion, 
to  take  up  the  said  appeal. 

The  second  item  of  the  report  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  the  Minutes  of  the  General  Assembly, 
respecting  the  Assembly's  u  Church- Erection 
Fund"  was  taken  up  for  consideration. 

A  circular  letter  from  the  trustees  of  the 
fund  was  read,  and,  after  discussion, 

The  Rev.  Messrs.  B.  and  O.,  a«id  Mr.  P.,  elder, 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  a 


128  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

minute  which  shall  embody  the  views  of  the 
Synod  as  expressed  in  this  discussion,  and  to 
report  the  same  during  the  present  sessions. 

The  Committee  on  the  Eecords  of  the  Pres- 
byteries of  H.,  B.,  E.,  and  F.  severally  reported, 
recommending  that  the  books  be  approved  as 
far  as  written. 

These  reports  were  adopted. 

The  Committee  on  the  Eecords  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  S.  reported  that  the  Book  of  Eecords 
has  not  been  in  the  house  during  the  present 
sessions  of  the  Synod; — Whereupon 

The  committee  was  discharged. 

The  Committee  on  the  Eecords  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  A.  requested  leave  to  withhold  its 
report  until  after  the  action  of  the  Synod  in 
the  judicial  case  which  has  been  reported 
shall  have  been  completed. 

The  request  was  granted. 

The  committee  which  was  appointed  to 
nominate  a  preacher,  and  to  propose  a  subject 
for  the  sermon  to  be  delivered  during  the  next 
annual  meeting  of  the  Synod,  reported,  recom- 
mending that  the  Eev.  O.  P.  be  appointed  the 
preacher,  and  that  the  Eev.  E.  S.,  D.D.,  be  his 
alternate.  The  committee  proposed  also  the 
following  subject  for  the  discourse,  namely: — 
"The  Doctrine  of  the  Divine  Decrees;  particu- 
larly that  of  Election." 


MINUTES    OF   A   SYNOD.  129 

The  recommendations  in  this  report  were 
adopted. 

The  fourth  item  in  the  report  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  the  Minutes  of  the  General  Assembly 
— referring  to  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publi- 
cation— which  had  been  put  upon  the  docket, 
was  then  taken  up  for  consideration;  and 

The  following  resolutions  were  adopted : — 

Resolved,  [Engross  the  resolutions.] 

The  fifth  item  of  the  report,  on  the  subject 
of  Education  for  the  Ministry,  was  taken  from 
the  docket;  and, 

After  a  brief  discussion, 

The  following  minute  was  adopted,  namely : — 

Whereas,  in  the  judgment  of  this  Synod,  the 
subject,  &c. 

[Here  proceed  to  engross  the  preamble  and  resolutions  on 
this  subject.] 

A  recess  was  then  taken  until  half-past  two 
o'clock,  in  the  church. 

At  half-past  two  o'clock,  the  Sacrament  of 
the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  in  the 
church,  and  the  services  were  conducted  ac- 
cording to  the  previous  arrangement. 

After  the  services, 

The  Synod  retired  to  the  lecture-room  and 
resumed  the  transaction  of  business. 

The  committee  appointed  to  receive  the 
assessments  for  the  incidental  expenses  of  the 


130  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

Synod  reported  that  he  had  received  from  all 
the  Presbyteries  the  amount  of  the  assessment, 
as  directed  by  the  standing  rule,  the  total  sum 
received  being  $ . 

The  report  was  accepted;  and  it  was 

Ordered,  That  the  amount  be  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  Treasurer. 

The  resolution  adopting  the  report  of  the 
Committee  on  the  Eecords  of  the  Presbytery 
of  E.  was  reconsidered;  and 

The  following  minute  was  adopted  as  a  sub- 
stitute, namely : — 

The  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of  E.  were 
approved  as  far  as  written,  with  the  following 
exception : — 

On  page  205  a  record  is  made  of  a  resolution 
to  proceed  to  the  ordination  of  a  licentiate  by 
a  committee,  instead  of  by  the  Presbytery  itself 
as  required  by  the  "  Form  of  Government/'  chap. 
xv.  sec.  xii. 

The  Synod  then  proceeded  to  the  order  of 
the  day.  And 

The  appeal  of  M.  1ST.  from  the  decision  of  the 
Presbytery  of  A.  was  taken  up. 

The  appellant  requested  that  the  Ecv.  G.  K. 
may  be  assigned  to  him  as  counsel,  to  aid  him 
in  conducting  his  appeal  before  the  Synod. 

The  request  of  the  appellant  was  granted,  and 
the  Eev.  G.  K.  was  assigned  to  him  as  counsel, 


MINUTES   OF   A   SYNOD.  131 

The  Moderator  solemnly  announced  "from 
the  chair  that  the  Synod  was  about  to  pass  to 
the  consideration  of  the  business  assigned  for 
trial,  and  enjoined  upon  the  members  to  recol- 
lect and  regard  their  high  character  as  judges 
of  a  court  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  solemn  duty 
in  which  they  were  about  to  act." 

The  sentence  appealed  from  was  then  read. 

The  reasons  assigned  by  the  appellant  for 
his  appeal,  and  which  are  on  record,  were  also 
read. 

The  whole  record  of  the  inferior  Judicatories 
in  the  case,  including  all  the  testimony,  was 
read. 

The  original  parties  were  then  heard,  in 
part;  and 

The  further  consideration  of  the  case  was 
postponed  until  after  the  Synodical  Prayer- 
Meeting  this  evening. 

The  Committee  on  tne  Narrative  of  the 
State  of  Religion  within  the  bounds  of  the 
Synod  presented  its  report,  which  was  adopted 
and  ordered  to  be  read  at  the  prayer-meeting 
this  evening,  and  to  be  published.  (See  Ap- 
pendix.)* 

*  If  the  minutes  of  the  Synod  are  printed,  the  Narrative 
need  not  be  engrossed  in  the  records,  but  should  be  placed  in 
an  appendix,  with  a  reference  in  the  printed  copies  as  in  the 
text.  If  the  Synod  docs  not  print  its  minutes,  tlie  minute  in 


132  THE   PRESBYTERIAN   MANUAL. 

A  recess  was  then  taken  until  half-past  seven 
o'clock,  in  the  church. 

At  half-past  seven  o'clock  the  Synodical 
Prayer-Meeting  was  attended  in  the  church 
by  the  Synod;  in  connection  with  the  congre- 
gation present,  and  the  services  were  conducted 
according  to  the  previous  arrangement. 

After  the  services, 

The  Synod  retired  to  the  lecture-room  and 
resumed  the  transaction  of  business. 

The  committee  which  was  appointed  to 
prepare  a  minute  expressing  the  views  of  the 
Synod  in  relation  to  the  Church-Erection  Fund 
of  the  General  Assembly  reported  the  follow- 
ing resolutions,  which  were  adopted,  namely: — 

Resolved,  That,  &c. 

[The  resolutions  should  here  be  engrossed,  being  part  of  the 
records.] 

The  .unfinished  business  of  the  afternoon, 
namely,  the  appeal  of  M.  JS".,  was  then  taken  up. 

The  original  parties  were  heard  in  continua- 
tion of  their  respective  arguments,  until  they 
had  concluded; — After  which, 

The  Synod  adjourned,  to  meet  to-morrow 
morning  at  half-past  eight  o'clock. 

Concluded  with  prayer. 

the  text  should  end  with  the  words  "this  evening;"  and  the 
Narrative  should  then  be  inserted  as  in  the  "Form  for  the 
Records  of  a  Presbytery"  on  page  24  of  this  Manual. 


MINUTES   OF   A   SYNOD.  133 

FRIDAY,  October  20,  18^ 

The  Synod  met,  pursuant  to  adjournment, 
and  engaged  in  devotional  exercises,  according 
to  the  standing  rule. 

The  calling  of  the  roll  was  dispensed  with. 

The  minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  yesterday 
were  read  and  approved. 

The  Synod  then  resumed  the  consideration  of 
the  unfinished  business,  namely,  the  appeal  of 
M.  N".  from  the  decision  of  the  Presbytery  of  A. 

The  Session  by  which  the  case  was  originally 
tried  was  heard;  and 

The  committee  of  the  Presbytery  appointed 
to  defend  its  proceedings  in  the  case  was  heard, 
until  the  arrival  of  the  hour  for  recess,  when 

A  recess  was  taken  until  half-past  two  o'clock. 

After  the  recess,  the  Treasurer  was  directed 
to  pay  the  salary  of  the  Stated  Clerk,  and  the 
janitor's  bill,  amounting  to  $ . 

The  unfinished  business  was  taken  up,  and 

The  committee  to  defend  the  Presbytery 
was  farther  heard. 

Other  members  of  the  inferior  Judicatory 
were  also  heard  in  explanation  of  the  grounds 
of  their  decision,  or  of  their  dissent  from  it. 

After  all  the  parties  had  been  fully  heard, 
and  the  original  parties  and  all  the  members 
of  the  inferior  Judicatory  had  withdrawn  from 
the  house, 

12 


184  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

The   roll   was   called,   that    every  membei 
might    have    an   opportunity  to   express   his 
opinion  on  the  case; — After  which, 
The  final  vote  was  taken,  and 
The  appeal  was  unanimously  sustained.* 
The  Ilev.  Messrs.  A.  B.  and  C.  D.  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  prepare  a  minute  for 
adoption  by  the  Judicatory,  setting  forth  its 
decision  and  the  grounds  thereof;  and 

The  committee  had  leave  to  retire  for  the 
purpose  of  preparing  its  report. 

The  Eev.  Drs.  J.  M.,  J.  W.,  and  H.  R,  and 
Messrs.  T.  K.  and  C.  S.,  elders,  were  elected 
the  Synod's  "Committee  on  Church-Exten- 

*  The  final  vote  may  be  merely  "sustained,"  or  "not  sus- 
tained/' and  the  record  should  be  made  accordingly,  as  in  the 
text.  But  if  the  vote  should  be  very  much  divided,  or  the 
principles  involved  in  the  decision  seem  to  require  it,  the  "yeas 
and  nays"  may  be  demanded  by  "one-third  of  the  members 
present;"  in  which  case  the  record  should  be  as  follows: — 

The  final  vote  was  taken;  and, 

The  yeas  and  nays  having  been  ordered, 

The  appeal  was  sustained  [or,  the  Synod  refused  to  sustain 
the  appeal]  by  the  following  vote,  namely : — 

To  SUSTAIN. — Ministers:  A.  B.,  C.  D.,  E.  F.,  &c. 

Elders :  R.  S.,  T.  W.,  <fcc.     Total  vote  to  sustain,  54. 

NOT  TO  SUSTAIN. — Ministers:  G.  H.,  J.  K.,  Ac. 

Elders :  0.  P.,  S.  T.,  &c.     Total  vote  not  to  sustain,  12. 

NON  LIQUET. — Mfnifttera  :  J.  E.,  Ac. 

Elders :  L.  M.,  &c.     Total  non  liquet,  5. 

EXCUSED  FROM  VOTING. — Ministers:  B.  C.,  &c. 

Elders:  D.  0.,  &Q.     Total  excused  from  voting,  7. 


MINUTES    OF   A    SYNOD.  Io5 

sion,"  required  by  the  xi.  article  of  the  General 
Assembly's  Church-Erection  Plan. 

The  following  resolution  was  unanimously 
adopted : — 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Synod  be 
presented  to  the  trustees  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  II.,  for  the  use  of  their  house  of 
worship  during  the  present  sessions;  to  the 
singers,  for  their  acceptable  services;  to  Ihe 
Committee  of  Arrangements,  for  the  efficient 
manner  in  which  its  duties  have  been  dis- 
charged; and  to  the  families  whose  Christian 
hospitalities  the  members  of  the  Synod  havo 
enjoyed. 

The  committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  min- 
ute expressing  the  judgment  of  the  Synod  re- 
specting the  subject  presented  in  Overture  No. 
III.  requested  leave  to  withhold  its  report  until 
the  next  annual  meeting  of  the  Synod. 

The  request  was  granted. 

Overture  IV.,  which  had  been  put  upon  the 
docket,  was  then  taken  up  for  consideration; 
and,  after  a  brief  discussion, 

It  was  referred  to  the  Eev.  Messrs.  L.  M. 
and  X.,  and  Messrs.  O.  and  P.,  elders,  to  con- 
sider the  subject,  and  to  report  at  the  next 
annual  meeting  of  the  Synod. 

The  Committee  on  Leave  of  Absence  re- 
ported that  leave  of  absence  has  been  given  to 


136  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

the  following  members  of  the  Synod,  namely  s 
The  Kev.  Messrs.  W.,  D.,  R.,  J.,  &c.,  and  Messrs 
F.,  G.,  H.j  &c.,  elders. 

The  committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  minute 
setting  forth  the  result  to  which  the  Synod  has 
arrived  in  the  case  of  the  appeal  of  M.  N".  pre- 
sented the  following  report,  which  was  adopted, 
namely : — 

The  Synod  of  N.,  having  heard  and  con- 
sidered the  appeal  of  M.  1ST.  from  the  decision 
of  the  Presbytery  of  A.  in  his  case,  does  unani- 
mously judge  and  determine  that  the  same  be, 
and  it  hereby  is,  sustained/  on  the  following 
grounds : — 

I.  [Here  should  follow,  in  detail,  the  several  reasons  as- 
signed.] 

The  Committee  on  the  Records  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  A.  reported,  recommending  that  they 
be  approved  as  far  as  written,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  so  much  as  relates  to  the  case  of  disci- 
pline which  has  been  brought  before  the  Synod 
on  the  appeal  of  M.  !N".,  and  in  which  the 
appeal  has  been  sustained  and  the  decision  of 
the  Presbytery  reversed. 

The  report  was  adopted. 

The  following  resolution  was  unanimously 
adopted : — 
.   Resolved,  That  the  members  of  the  Synod 


MINUTES    OP   A   SYNOD.  137 

hereby  express  their  intention  to  remember 
each  other  at  the  throne  of  grace  on  tho 
morning  of  every  Lord's  day. 

After  this  resolution  had  been  solemnly 
adopted,  the  members  as  a  body  giving  their 
assent  by  rising  from  their  seats,  it  was  pro- 
posed to  seek  the  blessing  of  God  upon  the 
engagement  into  which  the  Synod  has  now 
entered;  and 

A  brief  and  appropriate  prayer  was  accord- 
ingly offered. 

The  minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  to-day 
were  read  and  approved. 

The  roll  was  then  called,  and  it  appeared 
that  the  following  members  had  left  the  Synod 
without  leave :  namely,  Messrs.  T.,  F.,  W.;  £c. 

After  which, 

The  Synod  adjourned,  to  meet  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  N.  on  the  third  Tues- 
day in  October,  A.D.  18 — ,  at  seven  o'clock  P.M. 

Concluded  with  prayer,  singing,  and  tho 
benediction. 

N.  E.  S.,  Stated  Clerk. 

12* 


138  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 


Standing 

[The  following  standing  rules,  having  been  approved  by  the 
experience  for  several  years  of  one  of  our  largest  Synods,  are 
given  as  a  guide  in  forming  a  code  of  by-laws  for  the  regula- 
tion of  a  Synod  or  of  a  Presbytery.  Variations  and  additions 
will,  of  course,  be  suggested  by  the  particular  Avants  or  expe- 
rience of  each  Judicatory  which  may  be  disposed  to  adopt 
them.] 

I.  The  Synod  shall  meet  annually  on  the 
third  Tuesday  of  October,  at  three 
o'clock  P.M.,  at  such  place  as  shall  be 
designated  at  the  meeting  of  the  pre- 
vious year. 

II.  A  Committee  of  Arrangements  shall  be 
appointed  previously  to  the  adjourn- 
ment, yearly,  who  shall  provide  suitable 
accommodations  for  the  Synod,  and 
propose  the  arrangements  for  the  devo- 
tional exercises. 

III.  The  annual  meeting  of  the  Synod  shall 
be  opened  with  a  sermon  by  the  Mode- 
rator; or,  in  case  of  his  failure,  by  some 
member  of  the  Synod  designated  by  the 
Committee  of  Arrangements. 

IV.  All  the  devotional  meetings  of  the  Synod 
shall  be  held  at  the  place  of  opening 
the  annual  meeting. 


STANDING   RULES.  139 

Y.  The  daily  sessions  of  the  Synod  shall  bo 
opened  with  devotional  exercises,  to  be 
continued  at  least  three-fourths  of  an 
hour. 

VI.  At  every  annual  meeting  of  the  Synod 
a  sermon  on  some  topic  designated  by 
the  Synod  shall  be  preached  by  a  minis- 
ter appointed  at  the  meeting  of  the 
previous  year.  The  Lord's  Supper  also 
shall  be  celebrated.  Both  of  these  ser- 
vices shall  be  at  such  times  as  shall  be 
proposed  by  the  Committee  of  Arrange- 
ments. 

VII.  The  permanent  officers  of  the  Synod 
shall  be  a  Stated  Clerk  and  a  Treasurer, 
who  shall  continue  in  office  during  the 
pleasure  of  the  Synod,  and  the  former 
of  whom  shall  receive  for  his  services 

the  annual  sum  of dollars. 

VIII.  To  meet  the  contingent  expenses  of  the 
Synod,  the  several  Presbyteries  are  re- 
quested to  furnish  annually  the  amount 
assessed  upon  them  in  the  following 
schedule : — 

A ,  $ D ,  $ G ,8 

B ,    E ,    H ,    

IX.  The  Stated  Clerks  of  the  several  Pres- 
bj'teries  are  charged  to  forward  the  roll 
of  their  respective  bodies  to  the  Stated 


140  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

Clerk  of  the  Synod  at  least  one  week 
previously  to  every  annual  meeting. 
X.  In  addition  to  the  statistical  report  re- 
quired by  the  "Form  of  Government/' 
chapter  x.  section  ix.,  every  Presbytery 
shall  make  an  annual  report,  in  writing, 
of  the  state  of  religion  in  their  respect- 
ive bodies. 

XI.  The  minutes  of  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  Synod  shall  be  published  under  the 
direction  of  the  Stated  Clerk,  as  soon  as 
practicable  after  the  adjournment,  and 
a  copy  sent  to  every  member  of  the 
Synod. 

XII.  Members  of  the  Synod  arriving  at  any 
time  after  the  opening  session  shall 
report  themselves  to  the  chairman  of 
the  Committee  on  Leave  of  Absence, 
and  offer  their  reasons  for  tardiness  to 
the  said  committee;  and  their  names 
shall  be  entered  upon  the  roll  by  the 
Clerks,  on  the  report  of  the  chairman  of 
the  committee. 


DOCKET   OP   BUSINESS.  141 


J,  gfltdet  at  Business. 

[The  docket,  as  prepared  by  the  Stated  Clerk  before  the  meeting 
of  the  Judicatory,  should  contain  all  the  items  of  routine  business, 
all  matters  laid  over  from  a  former  meeting,  and  a  reference  to 
all  committees  from  which  reports  are  to  be  received.  It  is  not 
deemed  necessary  to  present  in  this  Manual  a  separate  docket 
for  a  Presbytery,  as  the  variations  required  to  adapt  the  form 
given  to  any  particular  Judicatory  will  readily  suggest  them- 
selves.] 

DOCKET,  ,  18 — . 

1.  Election  of  Moderator. 

2.  Election  of  two  Temporary  Clerks. 

3.  Printed  minutes  of  the  last  annual  meeting 
to  be  distributed. 

[If  the  minutes  are  not  printed,  the  third  item  should  be, 
Minutes,  <fec.  to  be  read.] 

4.  Standing   committees   to  be  appointed  by 
the  Moderator: — 

(1.)  Of  Bills  and  Overtures,  to  consist  of 
three  ministers  and  two  elders;  [or, 
four  ministers  and  three  elders;] 

(2.)  Judicial  Committee,  to  consist  of  three 
ministers  and  two  elders; 

(3.)  On  Leave  of  Absence,  to  consist  of 
two  ministers  and  one  elder;  > 

(4.)  On  the  Narrative,  to  consist  of  three 
ministers  and  two  elders; 


142  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANIAL. 

(5.)  On  the  Minutes  of  the  General  As- 
sembly, to  consist  of  two  ministers 
and  one  elder; 

(6.)  On  the  Records  of  the  Presbyteries/ 
two  ministers  and  one  elder  to  each 
Presbytery. 

5.  Reports    of   the    Committee    of   Arrange- 
ments:— 

(1.)  In  regard  to  the  times  for  the  Devo- 
tional and  Business  Sessions; 

(2.)  Order  of  exercises  for  the  Synodical 
Sermon; 

(3.)  Order  of  exercises  for  the  Communion 
Service ; 

(4.)  Order  of  exercises  for  the  Synodical 
Prayer-Meeting. 

6.  Treasurer's  Report  to  be  received  and  read. 

7.  Auditing  Committee  to  be  appointed. 

8.  "  «  «  report. 

9.  Committee  to  receive  the  assessments  upon 
the   Presbyteries   to   be    appointed.     (See 
VIII.  Standing  Rules.) 

10.  Committee  to  receive  the  assessments  to 
report. 

11.  Place  for  the  next  annual  meeting  of  the 
Synod  to  be  appointed. 

12.  Committee  of  Arrangements  for  next  year 
to  be  appointed. 

13.  Appoint      committee     to    nominate     the 


DOCKET   OF   BUSINESS.  143 

preacher  and  the  subject  for  the  Synod- 

ical  Sermon  next  year. 
Ji.  Committee   on   Preacher  and   Subject   to 

report. 
la    Appoint  order  of  the  day  for  hearing  the 

statistical  reports  and  the  ^Narratives  of  the 

Presbyteries. 

16.  Report  of  the  Committee  on  ;   Rev. 

Dr.  G.,  chairman. 

17.  Report  of  the  Committee  on  ;   Rev. 

J.  II.,  chairman. 

18.  Report  of  the  Committee  on  "Church-Ex- 
tension,"  required    by  the    xi.   article   of 
the  General  Assembly's  "Church-Erection 
Plan ;"  Rev.  Dr.  M.,  chairman. 

19.  Appoint  a  similar  committee  for  the  en- 
suing year.     It  must  consist  of  "at  least 
five  members/' 

20.  Take  order  in  regard  to  the  Stated  Clerk's 
salary,  and  the  janitor's  bill  for  stationery 
and  attendance. 

[To  the  original  docket  tfre  Moderator  will  make  additions 
from  time  to  time,  during  the  progress  of  the  sessions,  as  fol- 
lows : — ] 

21.  Order  of  the  day  for  Thursday,  ten  o'clock 
A.M.  :  statistical  reports  and  Narratives  of 
the  Presbyteries  to  be  read. 

22.  Wednesday  A.M.     Report  of  Committee  on 
,  unfinished  at  recess. 


144  THE   PRESBYTERIAN    MANUAL. 

23.  Overture    III.:    Eev.    Messrs.  M.   and  N. 
committee  to  report  a  minute. 

24.  Second  item  in  Eeport  on  Assembly's  Min- 
utes : — "  Church-Erection  Fund." 

25.  Fourth  item  in  Eeport  on  Assembly's  Min- 
utes:— "  Presbyterian    Board   of   Publica- 
tion." 

26.  Fifth  item  in  Eeport  on  Assembly's  Min- 
utes : — "  Education  for  the  Ministry." 

27.  Overture  IY. :  "  Accused  person  failing  to 
appear:  can  he  be  sentenced?" 

28.  Order  of  the   day,  after  the   communion 
services:  appeal  of  M.  ]ST. 

29.  «  Church-Erection  Fund :"— Eev.  Messrs.  B. 
and  O.,  and  Mr.  P.,  elder,   committee  to 
report  a  minute. 

30.  Committee  on  Eecords  of  the  Presbytery 
of  A.  to  report  after  the  appeal  shall  have 
been  issued. 

31.  Appeal  of  M.  !N". :   further  hearing   after 
Synodical  Prayer-Meeting. 

32.  Appeal  of  M.  N. :  further  hearing,  Friday 
morning. 

33.  Appeal  of  M.  N. :  further  hearing,  Friday 
P.M. 

34.  Committee  to  report  a  minute  of  the  Sy- 
nod's finding  in  the  case  of  the  appeal  of 
M.  N.;  Eev.  Messrs.  A.  B.  and  C.  D. 

THE  END. 


INDEX. 


A. 

PAOB 

Admission  to  Church-Membership 5 

Adjourned  Meeting  of  Presbytery 46 

Appeal  from  Session 78 

from  Presbytery 107,  127,  130,  133 

Appellate  Jurisdiction 104 

B. 

Benevolent  Collections 8 

Bills  and  Overtures 122,  126,  l;J5 

Business  Docket 141 


C. 

Church-Membership 5 

Certificate  of 19 

Letter  of  Credence  for 21 

Trial 66 

Certificate  of  Dismission  of  Church-Member 19 

of  Minister 27,  28 

Complaint 31,  38,  109 

Church  Dedication  of 22 

13  145 


146  INDEX. 

PAGE 

Church,  Organization  of 59 

Common  Fame,  Accusation  by 66,  95 

Call  for  Special  Meeting  of  Presbytery 57 

Citations  ..... 101 

Call  by  a  Church  in  Presbytery  for  a  Member  of 

the  Presbytery 27 

Ca,ll  of  a  Minister  of  another  Presbytery 33,  50 

Call  from  a  Church  of  another  Presbytery 41,  47,  49 

Commissioners  to  General  Assembly 31,  35 

Commissioners'  Fund 36 

Committee  on  Bills  and  Overtures 122,  126,  135 

D. 

Death  of  Ruling  Elder 13 

Pastor 14 

Dissolution  oT  Pastoral  Relation 49,  52 

Dismission  of  Church  Member 19 

Minister 27,  28 

Pastor 49,  52,  53,  55 

Docket  of  Business 141 

Dissents 109 

Dedication  of  House  of  Worship 22 

Deacons,  Election  of 63 

Discipline 66 

E. 

Elders,  Election  of 10,  63 

Death  of 13 

Certificate  of 20 

Election  of  Elders 10.  63 

Pastor 13 


INDEX.  117 


General  Review  and  Control 104 


Installation  of  Pastor 28,  34,  48,  50 

Individual  Accuser 83 

J. 

Judicial  Committee 31,  32,  38,  127 

Investigation 72,  79,  90 

L. 

Letter  of  Credence 21 

Moderator 58 

Licensure 32,  39,  44,  45 

Licentiate,  Reception  of 53 

M. 

Moderators  Letter,  calling  a  Meeting  of  Presbytery     58 

Minister,  Suspension  of 88 

Minutes  of  General  Assembly  in  Synod 125 

N. 
Narrative  of  State  of  Religion...  30,  35,  45,  121,  127,  131 

0. 

Organization  of  a  Church 59 

Ordination  Refused , 8 53 


148  INDEX. 

P. 

PAGS 

Pastor,  Death  of 14 

Election  of 18 

Dismission  of 49,  52,  55 

Call  of 27,  33,  41,  47,  49,  50 

Installation  of 28,  34,  48 

Presbytery,  Stated  Meeting  of 24 

Adjourned  Meeting  of 46 

Special  Meeting  of 51,  56 

Uniting  with  by  Certificate 28 

Trial  of  a  Member  of 83,  96,  107,  130, 

132,  136 

Presbyterial  Mission 31 

Prosecutor  Rebuked -. 88 

Private  Rebuke 79 

Protests 109 

Publication,  Action  upon 31,  36 

R. 

Records  of  a  Session 5 

in  Presbytery 30,  37 

of  a  Presbytery 24 

in  Synod 119,  128,  130,  136 

of  a  Synod 115 

Request  for  Investigation 90 

Reference 105 

Rules 138 


s. 

Session,  Records  of 5,  30,  37 

Informal  Meeting  of 9 


INDEX.  149 

PAGE 

Session,  Stated  Clerk  of 17 

Discipline  in  66,  97 

Reference  by,  to  Presbytery 106 

Supply  of  Vacant  Pulpit 15,  31,  42 

Stated  Supply 53 

Sabbath-School. 8 

Synod,  Records  of 115 

Special  Meeting  of  Presbytery , 51,  56 

Suspension  of  a  Minister 88 

Standing  Rules 138 

T. 
Treasurer's  Report 26,  33,  120,  122 

Y. 
Vacant  Pulpit,  Supply  of 15,  31,  42 


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